Every year, hundreds of international students and recent graduates come to Stockholm for tech internships, thesis projects, and short-term engineering positions. Many come from KTH, Lund, or European partner universities. Most have the same problem: where to live for 3–6 months in one of the world's most expensive rental markets.
Stockholm's Tech Geography
Stockholm isn't like Silicon Valley — the tech scene is spread across the city rather than concentrated in one strip. Knowing where your company is changes everything about where you should live:
🏢 Kista Science City — "Sweden's Silicon Valley"
- What: Europe's largest ICT cluster — 1,000+ tech companies, 25,000+ employees, 7,000 students
- Who's there: Ericsson (HQ, 39,000 sqm), IBM, Microsoft, Intel, Sandvik IT, Telia
- Specialties: Telecom/5G, AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors, space tech, defense tech
- Metro: Blue line — Kista station
- From Täby: ~25 min by bus + metro
📍 Other Major Tech Hubs in Stockholm
| Hub / Area | Companies | Metro | From Täby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kista | Ericsson, IBM, Microsoft | Blue line | ~25 min |
| Södermalm | Spotify, Klarna startups | Red/Green | ~45 min |
| Slussen / Gamla Stan | Fintech cluster | Red/Green | ~40 min |
| Solna / Arenastaden | Vattenfall, Polestar, NCC | Blue line | ~30 min |
| Hammarby Sjöstad | Greentech, cleantech | Tvärbanan | ~50 min |
| Sundbyberg | Assa Abloy, tech services | Blue line | ~30 min |
| Danderyd / Täby | Teledyne FLIR, Mycronic, Piab | Bus | 0–15 min |
📍 Right Next Door: Tech Companies in Täby & Danderyd
If you're working at one of these companies, you could literally walk or cycle to work from our rooms:
| Company | What They Do | Location | From Us |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teledyne FLIR | Infrared cameras, thermal sensors, defense optics. ~500 employees in Täby. | Antennvägen, Täby | ~10 min |
| Mycronic | High-tech production equipment for electronics & semiconductor industry. Global HQ. | Täby | ~10 min |
| Piab Group | Industrial automation, vacuum technology, gripping solutions. Global HQ. | Vendevägen, Danderyd | ~15 min |
| Megger | High-voltage test & measurement equipment for power industry. | Danderyd | ~15 min |
| Interspiro | Breathing apparatus and SCBA systems for fire, rescue, and defense. | Täby | ~10 min |
| Inrego | Circular IT — refurbished enterprise hardware. TechSverige member. | Täby | ~10 min |
| Kreditz | Fintech — real-time credit scoring and data analytics. | Danderyd | ~15 min |
| Danderyds Sjukhus | Major hospital — clinical research, KI-affiliated. Medtech & pharma innovation zone. | Danderyd | ~15 min |
Täby and Danderyd rank among Sweden's best municipalities for business climate (Danderyd #2 nationally in 2025, Täby #6). The area is growing fast with Täby Park, Arninge Business Park, and a planned Danderyds Science Park around the hospital.
The Housing Problem for Short-Term Tech Workers
Here's the brutal reality for a 3–6 month tech internship:
⚠️ Why It's Hard
- No personnummer yet — You can't sign a regular rental contract without one. Processing takes 2–8 weeks.
- Corporate housing is rare — Unlike the US, Swedish tech companies rarely provide housing for interns.
- University dorms are full — SSSB queue is 2+ years. KTH has limited spots.
- Subletting is temporary — Swedish law limits it. Landlords prefer longer tenants.
- Budget vs market — Intern stipends (often 15,000–25,000 SEK/month after tax) don't match Stockholm's rental market (8,000–14,000 for a studio).
Smart Options for Tech Interns
1. Private rooms in residential areas (5,000–8,000 SEK/month)
The sweet spot for most interns — a furnished room with kitchen access, WiFi, and no contract hassle. Services like Airbnb monthly stays, or landlords renting out rooms directly.
2. Shared apartments via Qasa or Blocket (4,000–7,000 SEK/month)
Search Qasa for verified listings. Blocket has more options but higher scam risk. Always meet the landlord and view the apartment before paying.
3. Co-living spaces (7,000–12,000 SEK/month)
Growing trend in Stockholm — furnished rooms with shared common areas, cleaning included, and a community of other international professionals. More expensive but zero hassle.
4. Company-arranged accommodation
Always ask your employer first. Larger companies like Ericsson sometimes have relocation support or knowledge of housing options. Smaller startups usually can't help — but your team lead might know someone subletting.
What Tech Workers Actually Need
Based on the interns and international engineers we've hosted:
- Fast internet (non-negotiable) — If you're working remotely some days or studying in the evenings, you need real fiber, not shared WiFi that drops during video calls.
- A proper desk — Not the kitchen table. A workspace where you can leave your monitor setup.
- Laundry access — Swedish laundry culture (shared basement with booking system) is confusing for newcomers. In-house machines save sanity.
- Kitchen — Sweden is expensive. Restaurant lunches cost 120–160 SEK. Cooking saves you 3,000+ SEK/month.
- Social proximity — Stockholm can feel isolating. Living in a shared house or villa with other tenants helps.
Swedish Office Culture — The Survival Guide
☕ Things Nobody Tells You
- Fika is mandatory. Coffee break at 10:00 and 15:00. Skip it and you miss 50% of the actual decision-making.
- Lunch is at 11:30. Exactly. The entire office leaves. Join them.
- Nobody stays past 17:00. Swedes optimize for efficiency, not hours. Staying late doesn't impress — it signals poor time management.
- Call everyone by first name. Even the CEO. "Mr/Mrs" is extinct in Swedish workplace culture.
- "Lagom" — Not too much, not too little. This applies to everything: opinions in meetings, lunch portions, email length.
- After-work (AW) — Thursday or Friday evening drinks. This is where real relationships are built. Say yes at least once.
The Budget Math
| Expense | Monthly (SEK) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 5,000–10,000 | Room or shared apartment |
| SL card | 970 | All public transport |
| Groceries | 3,000–4,000 | Cooking at home mostly |
| Phone | 150–250 | Prepaid or contract |
| Social / Going out | 1,000–3,000 | Stockholm nightlife is expensive |
| Total | ~10,000–18,000 | Comfortable intern budget |
Tech internship in the Stockholm area?
Our rooms in Täby offer 1 Gbps fiber, dedicated workspace, full kitchen, and a great commute to Kista (~25 min). From 5,900 SEK/month, no minimum stay. We provide receipts if your company reimburses housing.