Stockholm

1. Subterranean Secrets: Stockholm has an extensive network of tunnels and underground spaces, including the world's longest art gallery. The city's metro stations are adorned with unique artworks created by various artists, making the subway system a cultural experience in itself. 2. The City of Islands: While many know Stockholm as the capital of Sweden, few realize it is built on 14 islands connected by over 50 bridges. This unique geography gives the city a distinct charm and numerous waterfront views, as well as opportunities for kayaking and exploring small islands. 3. Historical Underground: Beneath the city lies the ancient ruins of the medieval city of Stockholm, with remnants of buildings and streets that date back to the 13th century. These archaeological sites are not widely known and offer a glimpse into the city's rich history, often overshadowed by its modern attractions.

The Stockholm housing market in mid-2025 is showing moderate recovery after the sharp downturn of 2022–2023. Residential property prices in central Stockholm average about 86,900 SEK per square meter (around 7,510 EUR/sqm at recent exchange rates), with the greater metro area at 68,100 SEK per sqm (approx. 5,880 EUR/sqm). The median price to buy an apartment in the city is roughly 5,315,000 SEK (about 459,650 EUR). Rental prices for apartments in central Stockholm range widely, but the median rental cost is around 350 SEK per sqm per month (roughly 30 EUR/sqm/month), reflecting high demand and a regulated rental market. Gross rental yields in Sweden are about 5.6 percent. In Stockholm, about 44 percent of homes are owned through housing cooperatives (bostadsrätt), while around 39 percent are rentals. Publicly owned municipal housing companies supply roughly 20–25 percent of the city’s total rental units, playing a critical role in availability and affordability. Public housing (“allmännyttan”) in Stockholm differs from social housing: it follows a universalist model, accessible to all residents regardless of income, with distribution typically based on waiting time, not on means-testing. True social housing, reserved for the most vulnerable, makes up a much smaller share. The city owns about 70 percent of its land and actively promotes both new cooperative and rental developments to address affordability, integrate neighborhoods, and meet surging demand.

The housing crisis in Stockholm is characterized by a severe shortage of available homes and long waiting lists for both public and private rentals. Approximately 800,000 people are on official waiting lists, with waiting times ranging from 5 to 30 years for a regulated rental apartment. This situation forces many into substandard housing or living with parents into adulthood. The urgent need for affordable housing affects around 80,000 people, including low-income individuals, young people, single-parent families, pensioners, and refugees. The city is building only about 4,000 new homes annually, while it needs 9,000 to 13,000 units per year to meet demand. The crisis contributes to social tensions, overcrowding, and socio-economic segregation across Stockholm. The vacancy rate is near zero, driving some to less desirable neighborhoods or the informal rental market. The median apartment purchase price is about 459,650 EUR, and rental prices are around 30 EUR per square meter per month.

The city administration of Stockholm is actively dealing with the challenge of affordable and sustainable housing through several initiatives. One of the key targets is to build 140,000 new homes by 2030, aiming for a diverse mix of tenures and greater affordability and sustainability. The **Stockholmshusen** program is a notable initiative, which involves coordinated long-term planning among city departments and municipal housing companies. It uses standardized designs and prefabricated materials to reduce construction costs and times, halving project lead times from eight to four years. Rents in these projects are 20% lower than comparable ones, making them more affordable for middle- and lower-income residents. The program also focuses on sustainability, incorporating features like solar panels and green roofs. Additionally, the city collaborates with cooperative housing organizations like HSB and Riksbyggen, leveraging its significant land ownership to allocate sites for affordable and sustainable housing. The city also supports pilot projects such as HSB's Living Lab, combining student housing with research into efficient living. These efforts aim to break down socioeconomic segregation by creating more integrated neighborhoods.

Bostadsrättsföreningar, eller kooperativa bostäder, utgör en central del av Stockholms bostadsmarknad och står idag för cirka 44 procent av stadens hela bostadsbestånd. Sektorn har vuxit kraftigt, särskilt genom ombildningar från hyresrätter och genom nybyggnation. Den största tillväxten har noterats i innerstaden, där bostadsrätter nu är den vanligaste ägandeformen. Drivande aktörer som HSB och Riksbyggen har varit avgörande för utvecklingen och förvaltningen inom sektorn. Kooperativt boende är attraktivt tack vare stabila avgifter och möjligheten för medlemmarna att påverka sitt eget boende, men utmanas samtidigt av höga priser och stigande skuldnivåer, och på senare tid ökade konkurser bland föreningarna. Stockholms stad arbetar aktivt med att främja kooperativt boende, bland annat genom att avsätta mark till nya projekt i samarbete med HSB och Riksbyggen. Satsningar som Stockholmshusen syftar till att snabba upp byggprocesser, sänka produktionskostnader och gynna hållbarhet, vilket även inkluderar kooperativa upplåtelseformer. Staden har även ställt krav på social och ekologisk hållbarhet, och stödjer pilotprojekt som HSB Living Lab för att utveckla nya boendeformer och bryta segregation. Trots dessa initiativ kvarstår betydande utmaningar för att möta den stora efterfrågan på prisvärda och tillgängliga bostäder.