How much money will you need for your semester in Stockholm?
While past students have reported using approximately $500 per month for personal expenses, lifestyles differ while living abroad. The cost of living in Sweden is relatively high, although as a semester student at DIS, every DIS housing option has covered a portion of your food expenses by either providing a stipend or by covering meals.
ATM/Debit Cards in Sweden
DIS recommends that you use a debit/ATM card that is either a Visa or MasterCard during your stay in Sweden.
Taking Your Debit Card Abroad
- Most shops in Sweden do not accept cards without a four-digit pin code; make sure your debit/ATM card has a four-digit pin code you can use
- Tell your bank you are traveling abroad and might take money out from various countries – some banks may not be accessed internationally
- Inquire about the fee per ATM withdraw as well as your daily withdrawal limit, so you can strategize how often you will extract money
- Foreign cards like Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted in Sweden, but it is still a good idea to have cash on you at all times just in case
- ATMs (such as ‘Bankomat’) are widely available in Stockholm where you can withdraw Swedish kronor
Credit Cards Abroad
For best results in using a credit card in Sweden, follow these guidelines:
- Your card must have a four-digit pin number
- If you do plan to bring a credit card, check with your company for fee information on international purchases
- DIS highly recommends that you ask your bank for a ‘chip’ credit card
- If you use a credit card without a chip, pin, or both, you will need to tell the employee at the cash register that you do not have chip. Some merchants may require chip cards