Studying in Sweden vs. United States
Sweden and United States are both popular study destinations — but the price tag, visa rules, and currency differ. We pulled the numbers from our cost calculator: monthly living averages €1,285 in Sweden and €2,530 in United States.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Sweden
Cheaper monthly living
Sweden
Lower visa proof of funds
Sweden
Side-by-side comparison
Sweden
United States
Currency
SEK (kr)
USD ($)
Public tuition (annual)
kr130,000
≈ €11,712 / yr
$32,000
≈ €27,533 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
kr160,000
≈ €14,414 / yr
$58,000
≈ €49,903 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
kr14,263 / mo
≈ €1,285 / mo
$2,941 / mo
≈ €2,530 / mo
Visa proof of funds
kr127,872
Migrationsverket proof (SEK 10,656/month)
Varies by I-20 (school issues)
Varies by I-20 (school issues)
Cities tracked
Stockholm, Gothenburg, Lund
New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Austin
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.