Swedish families' budgets squeezed by pricey holidays and parenting

A charter week to the Mediterranean now costs an average Swedish two‑child family 36,227 SEK, representing about 53 % of the household’s monthly income. In 2020 the same week was 28,311 SEK (41 % of income). Low‑income families spend roughly two‑thirds of their monthly earnings on a charter, while higher‑income families spend about 41 %. Alternative vacation options are cheaper: renting abroad 31 % of income, renting in Sweden 24 %, and camping only 12 % – four weeks of camping can be bought for the price of one charter week.

Raising a child to age 19 is estimated to cost around 1.9 million SEK, or about 1.6 million SEK after child‑benefit subsidies. The first year alone costs roughly 160,000 SEK, with a net outlay of about 145,000 SEK after benefits. Parental leave reduces household income by roughly 98,000 SEK annually. Both reports highlight how inflation‑driven price rises outpace wage growth, putting considerable pressure on Swedish family budgets.