How Much Do I Spend on Groceries in Sweden as a Student?

A few days ago I got a message from a new student asking the classic question: “How much do groceries cost in Sweden?” And honestly… I get it. Before moving here, we all wonder the same thing: How much money do I need to survive? So, I decided to answer that in this blog based on my experience. 💛

🛒 My Experience

Let me start by saying: I’m not the most organized person when it comes to groceries. I don’t have a strict budget, I just buy things as I need them. Should I fix that? Absolutely 😅 but the good news is that even without perfect planning, it’s totally possible to survive here without overspending.

My logic is simple:

👉 One big grocery trip at the beginning of the month
👉 At least one smaller weekly top-up

🧊 The Big Grocery Buy

For the big trip, I always go to the cheapest store in town: Lidl! 💛 Here’s what I usually get for the whole month (or things that don’t expire fast):

• Frozen veggies 🥦
• Frozen hamburgers, nuggets, or salmon 🐟
• Ice cream (because… obviously 🍦)
• Basics like rice, potatoes, and noodles 🍚🥔
• Fruits like clementines and pears 🍐
• Cleaning supplies like toilet paper 🧻
• And then all the “this-week basics”: milk (lactose-free for me), yogurt, fresh chicken, etc.
• Plus some little treats or snacks depending on my mood 😌

This big monthly buy usually comes to around 500 SEK.

🥚 The Little Weekly Buys

Every week I need to restock things that expire quickly:

• Milk, yogurt, eggs, fresh veggies 🥕
• Fresh chicken 🍗
• Tortillas, crackers, bread or anything I run out of fast 🌮
• And of course… some snacks depending on life’s emotional rollercoaster 🤭

These smaller grocery runs usually cost between 150 and 250 SEK.

💸 The Total

As you can tell, I’m not super strict with planning, but I can still give you a pretty realistic estimate. This may vary depending on:

• student discounts 🎓
• how organized you are (unlike me 😬)
• your dietary restrictions (I’m lactose intolerant, so my options are a bit pricier)
• whether you chase good offers 🏷️

Here’s my monthly breakdown in weeks:

• Week 1: 500 SEK
• Week 2: 250 SEK
• Week 3: 250 SEK
• Week 4: 250 SEK

👉 Total: 1,250 SEK

If you’re organized, not picky, and don’t have dietary restrictions, you can absolutely spend closer to 1,000 SEK per month.

So there you have it! Groceries in Sweden don’t have to be crazy expensive, especially if you plan a little. I hope this helps you get a clearer idea before your big move. Let me know if this was helpful!