Furnished vs Unfurnished Rentals in Sweden: What to Expect

An unfurnished apartment that looks 2,000 SEK cheaper per month can easily cost you 20,000 SEK more in the first year once you factor in furnishing, assembly time, and the inevitable IKEA run. The furnished premium is real — but so is the math that makes unfurnished the better call if you are staying long enough. Neither choice is always right. It depends on how long you are staying, what you already own, and what your relocation package covers.

The Price Premium for Furnished Apartments

Furnished andrahand apartments in Sweden typically cost 15–30% more per month than comparable unfurnished units. In concrete terms:

• An unfurnished one-room apartment in Stockholm might rent for 9,500 SEK/month
• The same apartment furnished: 11,500–12,500 SEK/month

Over a 12-month lease, that premium is 24,000–36,000 SEK. Over 6 months, it is 12,000–18,000 SEK.

The premium varies by platform and landlord. Apartments listed on Qasa and Samtrygg tend to be more consistently priced because both platforms require landlords to specify furniture status and the listings get reviewed. BostadsPortal has more variance — some furnished listings are barely more expensive than unfurnished, while others are significantly overpriced.

What "Furnished" Actually Means in Sweden

Swedish landlords do not use a standardized definition of furnished (möblerad), which creates genuine surprises. In practice, a furnished Swedish andrahand apartment typically includes:

Usually included:

• Bed frame and mattress
• Sofa or armchairs
• Dining table and chairs
• Kitchen equipment (pots, pans, plates, glasses, cutlery)
• Wardrobe or closet
• Desk and chair (especially in cities with high student populations)

Sometimes included:

• Washing machine
• Dishwasher
• Television
• Bedding and towels
• Lamps and lighting fixtures

Rarely included:

• Quality mattress topper
• Blackout curtains
• Adequate storage solutions

Before signing, ask specifically about the items that matter most to you. A common frustration is arriving to find the apartment has a mattress but no bedding, or a kitchen with one pot. Request a written inventory list (inventarieförteckning) — in a proper andrahand contract, this should be attached as an appendix.

The Unfurnished Math: IKEA and Beyond

If you are renting unfurnished, Sweden is an excellent country to furnish from scratch — IKEA was founded here, and the stores are large, well-stocked, and accessible from every major city. A realistic budget to make an empty apartment livable:

Minimal setup (functional, not comfortable): 10,000–15,000 SEK

• Basic bed frame + mattress: 4,000–6,000 SEK
• Simple sofa: 2,500–4,000 SEK
• Dining table + chairs: 1,500–2,500 SEK
• Essential kitchen items: 1,000–2,000 SEK

Normal setup (comfortable): 20,000–30,000 SEK

• Adds: better mattress, rug, curtains, lamps, storage, linens

Full setup (feels like home): 35,000–55,000 SEK

• Adds: quality furniture throughout, artwork, complete kitchen equipment

The IKEA approach works financially if you are staying 18+ months, because you can resell most IKEA furniture on Blocket or Facebook Marketplace for 40–70% of purchase price when you leave. The resale market in Stockholm and Gothenburg is strong for IKEA furniture in good condition. Factor this into your calculation: a 25,000 SEK unfurnished setup that sells for 12,000 SEK when you leave costs you 13,000 SEK net, versus 18,000 SEK in furnished premium for an 18-month lease.

The Inventory List and Wear-and-Tear Disputes

The inventory list (inventarieförteckning) is one of the most dispute-prone areas of Swedish andrahand rentals. When renting furnished, insist on:

1. A complete written inventory attached to the lease agreement
2. Photographs of the apartment's condition at move-in, ideally timestamped
3. Clear agreement on what constitutes "normal wear and tear" vs damage

Swedish law (Hyreslagen, the Tenancy Act) distinguishes between normal wear and tear — which a landlord cannot deduct from your deposit — and actual damage, which they can. Normal wear and tear includes: minor scuffs on walls, small stains on a mattress after normal use, slight fading of fabrics. Actual damage includes: broken furniture, large stains, holes in walls.

The difficulty for expats is that these disputes are argued in Swedish, before Swedish authorities. Documented evidence (photos, written messages confirming the apartment's condition) matters enormously. Take photos on moving day. Send them to the landlord in a written message so there is a timestamp and confirmation they received them.

Which Platforms Have Better Furnished Options

Based on our monitoring of listings across the five main andrahand platforms:

Qasa has the largest selection of furnished apartments and the most transparent listings. The platform verifies tenant identity and income, which attracts landlords willing to rent furnished at a premium. Good for Stockholm and Gothenburg.

Samtrygg runs a guarantee model where Samtrygg itself guarantees the landlord against damage, making landlords more comfortable renting furnished. This translates into a reasonable supply of furnished listings, particularly in Stockholm.

BostadsPortal is more hit-or-miss for furnished. The listings are less standardized, but the prices can be lower for comparable quality. Worth checking but requires more due diligence on what "furnished" actually means for each listing.

The Decision Framework

Choose furnished if:

• You are staying less than 12 months
• You are relocating for work and do not want the hassle of furniture logistics
• You are arriving from outside Europe and cannot easily ship belongings
• You have a company relocation budget that covers the premium

Choose unfurnished if:

• You are staying 18+ months
• You have furniture you can ship or buy from a previous tenant
• You prefer to have your own belongings
• Budget is constrained and you are comfortable with an IKEA setup

The break-even calculation: Take your monthly furnished premium and divide your estimated furniture cost by it. If your furnished premium is 2,000 SEK/month and a basic setup costs 15,000 SEK, the break-even is 7.5 months. Past that point, unfurnished saves money.

If you are still searching for an apartment, furnished or unfurnished, see our overview of the digital tools for finding andrahand apartments. Getting notified early — before good listings fill — is more important than any other variable in your search. You can filter by furnished status, price, and location at Expatriate so you only hear about apartments that fit your criteria.