Cheaper housing is available in Stockholm for those willing to commute. As in most cities, a thumb rule is that the further you are prepared to travel, the more you will get for your money.
Pandemic trends
A clear trend during the pandemic was an increased demand for more living space, as people adjusted to working from home. This led to skyrocketing prices for both houses and larger apartments as well as movement out towards the suburbs and countryside. It is widely believed that this trend is here to stay as many Swedish employers have adopted long term policies of allowing working from home on a hybrid or permanent basis. Despite skyrocketing prices, it is still considerably cheaper to buy an apartment in the suburbs than in central Stockholm, where the average price for an apartment is currently 108 000 SEK per square metre, compared to 65 000 SEK per square metre in the close suburb of Solna for example, or 39 000 SEK in the further afield suburb of Järfälla. (Source: Svensk Mäkalarstatistik)
Travel Time Vs Property Price Savings
Recent calculations by Swedish property company Länsförsäkringar Fastighetsförmedling provide interesting cost comparisons for those considering moving to the suburbs for more space. The figures provided below are guide prices for how much can be saved per travel hour by those commuting into central Stockholm for work.
*Cost savings are calculated as the difference between the average price of apartments in Central Stockholm and in each municipality (Stockholm suburb), divided by the travel time. The result was then calculated per travel-hour based on 220 travel days per year over a ten year period. **Travel-time is calculated as an average between three and five different places in each municipality to Stockholm central station at 08.00 on a Monday morning. Source: DN, Ekonomi Bostad, 18.04.2022, Dan Lucas & Johan Andersson, article based on Data from Länsförsäkringar Fastighetsförmedling.
Sundbyberg offers the greatest savings
In terms of cost savings per commuting hour, Sundbyberg tops the rankings by a sizeable margin. Conveniently located just 8 minutes from Stockholm Central Station, this suburb offers a full range of amenities and its own lively town centre. It also benefits from an excellent range of transport connections including metro, tram and commuter trains. Neighbouring Solna, another popular northern suburb, takes second place whilst Huddinge, located south of Stockholm, offers the third highest savings.
Average savings for commuting
The average cost saving per travel hour from a Stockholm suburb is 1 742 SEK and the average price difference between apartments in central Stockholm locations and the suburbs is a whopping 3 332 000 SEK. Thirty two minutes is the length of the average commute from a Stockholm suburb to Stockholm’s central train station.
Location advice
If you are moving to Stockholm and need location advice for buying or renting property, please do not hesitate to contact us at Relocate To Sweden by emailing info@relocatetosweden.com. Whatever your requirements, whether it’s the best schools, neighbourhood status information or the lowest local tax rates, we can help. We also provide short term accommodation and home finding services for newly recruited international staff as well as a full range of relocation services in major Swedish cities.
PhotoCredits: Melker Dahlstrand/imagebnk.sweden.se