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Financial matters

A cafe and a bike shop with people behind the windows

Cost of living in Sweden

As a new student in Lund, it can be a good idea to draw up your own budget to help you plan your expenses. Bear in mind that the first month is often the most expensive, with various costs associated with setting up your study and living arrangements and getting settled.

Your cost of living in Sweden will of course depend on your individual lifestyle. Eating out and travelling around can be expensive and this is something you may want to take this into account when planning your budget. However, many places also offer student discounts.

The currency in Sweden is the krona. It is abbreviated to SEK. You can use a currency converter to check the latest exchange rates and convert to your own currency.

Currency converter – xe.com

Swedish students who have been approved for full student loans and grants from the Swedish government receive approximately SEK 9,000 to 12,000 per month. Many international students manage with a budget somewhere in between the required SEK 9,450 and the maximum Swedish student loan amount.

Below is a breakdown of what a monthly budget may look like, depending on your specific costs for rent and leisure activities:

  • Food SEK 2,300
  • Accommodation SEK 4,000 to 6,500*
  • Course materials SEK 400–1,000
  • Miscellaneous expenses including clothing, mobile phone, leisure activities, etc: SEK 1,500

*Please note that this is only a rough estimate of costs.

Student discounts

As a student at Lund University, there are several organisations where you can register to receive a student discount card.

The student offers vary depending on the organisation, but the card often entitles you to discounts 

  • in certain cafés and restaurants
  • on travel tickets (e.g. Skånetrafiken and SJ) and 
  • on products such as computers, clothes and books, both in shops and online. 

For the student card to be valid, most organisations require you to show your identity card at the time of purchase. Note that your personal access card (LU Card) does not work as a student discount card.

Below we have listed the two main organisations that offer student discount cards relevant to Lund University students.

When you join Studentlund, you automatically receive a student card called 'Studentkortet' ('the student card'). This is both a membership card and a student discount card. The membership gives you access to many important services and activities related to student life in Lund, Malmö and Helsingborg. 

In combination with your regular identity card, the student card also gives you discounts on popular services and products. 

Find out more about the Studentlund membership and Studentkortet:

Becoming a member of Mecenat gives you many benefits as a student, including student discounts.

To get access to the discounts, you need to create an account on the Mecenat website and then order a Mecenat card. However, this does not apply to students studying at the Faculty of Technology (LTH), as LTH's student union, Teknologkåren, orders Mecenat cards for all students after the University has processed the course registrations.

After graduation, you will automatically have access to the Mecenat Alumni discounts. 

Find out more about Mecenat and how to get the card:

How to apply for a Mecenat Card – mecenat.com