House or flat in Sweden? The full monthly cost differs by SEK 4,000
A SEK 4 million house costs SEK 16,923 a month and a SEK 3 million co-op flat SEK 12,892, counting interest, amortization, running costs and fee.
A SEK 4,000,000 house and a SEK 3,000,000 co-op flat can differ by about SEK 4,000 a month. The price is only part of it. Interest, amortization, running costs and the housing association fee together make the real monthly cost. Here is the sum for both, item by item.
The starting point
Before 1 April 2026, a mortgage in Sweden may be at most 85% of the home's value. That limit is the loan-to-value cap ("bolånetak"). The rest is your down payment ("kontantinsats").
- The house costs SEK 4,000,000. The down payment is SEK 600,000 and the loan SEK 3,400,000.
- The co-op flat ("bostadsrätt") costs SEK 3,000,000. The down payment is SEK 450,000 and the loan SEK 2,550,000.
We use a variable rate of 2.65%. That is roughly what the large banks charged on average for variable mortgages in November 2025, according to Bolån Radar.
Interest after tax relief
The interest deduction ("ränteavdrag") is 30% of interest costs up to SEK 100,000 a year.
- House: SEK 3,400,000 at 2.65% is SEK 90,100 a year. After the deduction, interest costs SEK 63,070, or SEK 5,256 a month.
- Co-op: SEK 2,550,000 at 2.65% is SEK 67,575 a year. After the deduction that is SEK 47,303, or SEK 3,942 a month.
Amortization
Both loans are at 85% of the value. Above 70%, you must pay off 2% of the loan each year.
- House: SEK 68,000 a year, or SEK 5,667 a month.
- Co-op: SEK 51,000 a year, or SEK 4,250 a month.
The stricter amortization rule ("skärpt amorteringskrav") adds 1% when your mortgages exceed 4.5 times the household's gross income.
The house loan crosses that line if you earn less than about SEK 63,000 a month before tax. Your amortization then rises by SEK 2,833 a month. For the co-op loan, the line is about SEK 47,000 a month.
Running costs and the fee
In the house you pay for everything yourself. In this example the running costs are SEK 4,500 a month. They should cover electricity, heating, water, waste collection, insurance and the property fee ("fastighetsavgift").
For 2026 the property fee is 0.75% of the tax assessment value, capped at SEK 10,425 a year. That is at most SEK 869 a month. Check that the agent's figure includes it.
A house also needs upkeep. The roof, windows and walls wear out. Set aside your own amount every month. We use SEK 1,500.
In the co-op you pay a monthly fee to the housing association ("bostadsrättsförening"), here SEK 4,000. It covers the association's running costs, maintenance and loans. Check what the fee covers, such as heating, water and electricity. In this example we add SEK 700 for electricity and home insurance.
The full monthly cost
| Item | House SEK 4,000,000 | Co-op SEK 3,000,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Interest after deduction | 5,256 kr | 3,942 kr |
| Amortization 2% | 5,667 kr | 4,250 kr |
| Running costs or fee | 4,500 kr | 4,000 kr |
| Upkeep, electricity, insurance | 1,500 kr | 700 kr |
| Total per month | 16,923 kr | 12,892 kr |
The gap is SEK 4,031 a month. Amortization is saving in your own home, so without it the cost is SEK 11,256 for the house and SEK 8,642 for the co-op.
What the sum leaves out
A co-op fee can go up. The association often has its own loans. If their rates rise or the building needs work, the board can raise the fee.
Read the association's annual report. The estate agent must give it to you. The agent must also state the flat's share of the association's debt and any fee increases already decided.
In a house, you carry the whole cost when something breaks. On the other hand, you decide when and how to renovate. The property types chapter of the real estate crash course covers what else sets a house, a terraced house and a flat apart.
The down payment differs too. The house ties up SEK 150,000 more of your savings.
Do your own sum
- Work out the down payment and the loan from the price.
- Calculate the interest on the loan and take off 30%.
- Work out amortization from the loan-to-value ratio and your income.
- Add running costs or the fee, electricity, insurance and upkeep.
- Run the same sum with a rate 2 points higher.
The estate agent must offer you a written housing cost estimate. Use it as a starting point, but swap in your own rate and running costs.
Sources
- Finansinspektionen: FFFS 2016:16 on amortization (Swedish)
- Riksbank: Credit assessment for mortgages, staff memo June 2024 (Swedish)
- Skatteverket: Deduction for interest costs (Swedish)
- Skatteverket: Property fee and property tax (Swedish)
- Estate Agents Act (2021:516), chapter 3 sections 14 to 16 (Swedish)
- Bolån Radar: banks' average rates
This content is general information, not financial or legal advice. Bolån Radar collects data from banks and authorities and cannot guarantee that it is complete or free of errors. Talk to your bank or an adviser before you decide.