Moving to Stockholm: The complete guide for expats
Everything you need to know when relocating to Sweden's capital – written by movers who help 1,800+ households a year, including hundreds of expats.
1. Choosing your neighborhood
Stockholm is built on 14 islands and every neighborhood has a distinct character. Södermalm is the creative hub (think Brooklyn), Östermalm is upscale and central, Vasastan and Kungsholmen are family-friendly, while Kista and Solna are Sweden's tech corridors – close to Ericsson, Microsoft and the new Karolinska hospital.
If you have children in an international school (SIS, Futuraskolan, Enskilda), Djursholm, Danderyd and Bromma are the classic choices.
2. Personnummer, RUT and taxes
Once you have a Swedish personnummer (personal identity number) and a local salary, you unlock 50% RUT deduction on all moving labor – up to SEK 75,000 per person per year (2026). We handle the paperwork with Skatteverket for you; you only pay the net amount.
Without a personnummer we can still move you, but you pay the full amount. Keep receipts – some employers reimburse relocation up to a certain cap.
3. Housing: rent, tenure & sublets
Stockholm has three main housing types: hyresrätt (first-hand rentals, waiting lists of 8–20 years), bostadsrätt (co-op ownership – 95% of the market for buyers) and villa (detached houses in the suburbs).
Most expats start with a subletted (andrahandsuthyrning) apartment while they wait for a permanent solution. Storage from us bridges the gap between short-term sublets and a final home.
4. Practical relocation checklist
- Book Skatteverket appointment for personnummer within 2 weeks of arrival.
- Open a bank account (Nordea, SEB, Handelsbanken) – requires personnummer.
- Register your address with Skatteverket (folkbokföring).
- Sign up for BankID – the digital identity you'll use everywhere.
- Get home insurance (hemförsäkring) – required from day one.
- Book the mover (that's us!) at least 3 weeks before your target date.
5. What we handle for you
We coordinate elevator bookings, parking permits (required in the inner city), packing, disassembly, transport, unpacking and IKEA assembly – all in English. For international moves we manage customs, container shipping and door-to-door delivery in 40+ countries.
Ready to move to Stockholm?
Free English-speaking quote in 60 minutes. RUT paperwork handled by us.
FAQ
- How much does it cost to move to Stockholm?
- A standard 2-room apartment costs around SEK 3,900–5,500 after RUT deduction. International moves start at SEK 25,000 for a 20-foot container, depending on origin country.
- Do I need a personnummer to hire a moving company?
- No. Anyone can hire us. However, to get the 50% RUT deduction you must be tax-registered in Sweden with a personnummer. Without RUT we can invoice the full amount.
- How far in advance should I book?
- For month-end moves and June-August, book 4–6 weeks ahead. Mid-month bookings usually fit within 7–14 days.
- Can you help me find storage during my move?
- Yes – our climate-controlled storage in Stockholm starts at SEK 495/m³/month with no minimum lock-in.