Have you always thought that Sweden is an expensive destination to visit? Read on, you may be about to change your mind….
With British Pound > Swedish Krona exchange rates at their highest since Nature Travels began in 2006, we compare some prices between the Sweden and the UK to see if the common belief that Sweden has high prices is really true.
We’ve looked at three areas that are particularly relevant for our guests doing experiences with Nature Travels in Sweden:
- Travelling by public transport
- Buying food and drink (both in shops and when eating out)
- Doing some common outdoor activities
Of course, the below are only isolated examples for the purpose of illustration, but may help give you an idea of what to expect. Prices and exchange rates are correct at the time of writing (July 2024):
Is it expensive to travel by public transport in Sweden?
In general, Sweden is a very affordable country to get around by public transport, both by train and bus. Fares will of course vary depending on your destination, time of booking and other factors, but travelling by public transport in Sweden can be excellent value, especially if you book well in advance for long-distance services, or if you’re travelling as a family.
Here’s a quick comparison:
For long-distance trains:
For a travel date 4 days ahead:
- One-way train ticket from London to Edinburgh (a distance of 660km) from www.thetrainline.com: Lowest price £68.90/adult.
- One-way train ticket from Copenhagen to Stockholm (a distance of 659km) from Swedish train website www.sj.se: Lowest price 468 SEK/adult (£33.57).
- Verdict: The Swedish train ticket is less than half the price of the UK train ticket for an equivalent distance!
For a travel date 50 days ahead:
- One-way train ticket from London to Edinburgh (a distance of 660km) from www.thetrainline.com: Lowest price £46.
- One-way train ticket from Copenhagen to Stockholm (a distance of 659km) from Swedish train website www.sj.se: Lowest price 418 SEK/adult (£29.98).
- Verdict: The Swedish train ticket is two thirds of the price of the UK train ticket for an equivalent distance!
For long-distance coaches:
For a travel date 10 days ahead:
- One-way coach ticket from London to Penzance (a distance of 493km) from www.nationalexpress.com: £41.60
- One-way coach ticket from Stockholm to Gothenburg (a distance of 470km) with www.flixbus.se: 378 SEK (£27.23)
- Verdict: The Swedish coach ticket is two thirds of the price of the UK coach ticket for an equivalent distance! In general, you’re likely to find that fares overall in the UK and Sweden are quite similar for bus and coach travel.
Is alcohol expensive in Sweden?
Traditionally, Sweden has always been associated with high alcohol prices. Is that still true?
No! Not if you’re buying in an off-licence or supermarket anyway.
Tip: In Sweden, beer up to 3.5% strength can be purchased in a normal supermarket. Any stronger alcohol (stronger beers, wine, spirits) can only be purchased in the state off-licence, called Systembolaget, or in a bar or restaurant of course. Read our blog article about Systembolaget here for more information.
Buying beer in Sweden:
Unlike wines, beer can be difficult to compare “like for like” directly, as of course brands and products are often local and what’s available may differ between the countries, but here we’ve compared some common “everyday quality” popular beers:
…from a supermarket:
- Six-pack of Norrlands Guld lager, 500ml cans, 3.5% strength from ICA: 73 SEK (£5.32 or £0.88 per can). That includes 6 SEK (£0.44) “pant” or deposit, which is refundable when you return the cans for recycling.
- Four-pack of John Smiths bitter, 440ml cans, 3.4% strength from Tesco: £4.75 (£1.19 per can).
…from an off-licence:
- 440ml can of San Miguel 5% strength lager at Tesco is £5.45 for a pack of 4 cans (=£3.10 per litre)
- 500ml can of Pripps Blå 5% strength lager at Systembolaget is 14.20 SEK (£1.02 = £2.04/litre*).
*And also based on buying a single item, not a multi-pack – to encourage responsible drinking, Systembolaget never has multi-buy or reduced price offers on alcoholic drinks.
Verdict: Beer in Sweden can be cheaper than in the UK when bought at an off-licence or supermarket.
Buying wine in Sweden from an off-licence:
- A bottle of Faustino VII Rioja at Tesco is £8.75.
- A bottle of Faustino VII Rioja at Systembolaget is 99 SEK (£7.12).
Verdict: Wine in Sweden can be cheaper than in the UK when bought at an off-licence.
Buying spirits in Sweden from an off-licence:
But spirits in Sweden are REALLY expensive, aren’t they? Let’s see…
Buying whisky at an off-licence:
- A 70cl bottle of Famous Grouse blended whisky at Tesco is £17.75
- A 70cl bottle of Famous Grouse blended whisky at Systembolaget is 289 SEK (£20.79).
Verdict: Spirits in Sweden will generally be more expensive than in the UK, due to high taxes on alcohol content, but the difference in price may not be that great.
Is buying food and eating out in Sweden expensive?
So what about buying food and eating out in Sweden? Is that expensive?
In the past, food in Sweden was always generally more expensive than in the UK, whether bought in a supermarket or when eating out. But with the excellent exchange rates now, this is no longer true. Food from supermarkets is generally quite similar now, and Sweden also has the “budget” supermarket chains such as Lidl and Aldi, as well as its own budget supermarkets such as Willy’s. And if you bring your bottles and cans back for recycling, you get money back, too!
The cost of eating out is also now broadly similar, or can even be cheaper, compared to the UK. A real bargain option for eating out in Sweden is “Dagens Lunch” or “Lunch of the Day”. Many restaurants will offer this. There is usually a choice of 2-3 dishes (meat/fish/vegetarian) or if it’s a Thai restaurant, for example, it may be an all-you-can-eat buffet. Side salad, soft drink and coffee/biscuits are usually included.
Prices for Dagens Lunch will vary of course, but are usually in the region of 110-170 SEK (£7.77-£12.18) per person. Pizza is often a particular bargain in Sweden. For example, at the time of writing, Lilla Mama Rosa Italian restaurant in Stockholm has a 3-course Dagens Lunch with salad, pasta and pizza for 109 SEK!
As in the UK, dining out in the evening will generally be more expensive than at lunchtime, but depending on where you go of course, you’re likely to find that costs are broadly comparable to the UK.
Buying beer and wine in a restaurant or bar will still usually be a little more expensive than in the UK, but the difference is certainly much less than it used to be.
Some food items can be amazingly affordable in Sweden – on a recent visit to Skåne in the far south of Sweden, I indulged my craving for a “GB Sandwich” ice-cream (vanilla ice cream between two chocolate wafers), which even from a tourist shop at a popular harbour cost just 20 SEK (£1.46).
Are outdoor activities expensive in Sweden?
We checked the cost of hiring a canoe in Monmouth, Wales. The rate quoted was £70/day for a 2-person canoe, which would be £280 for 4 days/3 nights, not including camping equipment.
By comparison, our Canoeing in Dalsland’s Lake District experience in the west of Sweden is currently £150/person for 4 days/3 nights, total £300 for 2 persons. But that then includes not only your canoe equipment, but all camping and kitchen equipment, and the nature card required to use the network of overnight camping spots during your tour!
Verdict: In general, equipment hire for summer activities such as canoeing, kayaking and also cycling will often be cheaper, sometimes much cheaper, in Sweden compared to the UK.
What about winter activities? Aren’t they expensive?
Most of the winter activities we offer in Sweden cannot be done in the UK, so it’s not possible to compare the two countries. Of course, winter activities will always typically be higher priced compared to summer activities regardless of the destination, both because of the equipment required and because they are usually guided.
For enjoying Sweden in wintertime, we offer a wide variety of options, including multi-day dogsled tours, backcountry skiing and ice skating on natural ice.
Overall, Sweden can be a very affordable destination for your next outdoor adventure, and at Nature Travels we try to offer experiences to suit a wide range of budget levels. Please feel free to contact us for advice on choosing the most appropriate experience for you.