Known in Europe as Venice of the north, Stockholm is located on Sweden’s south-central east coast, where the freshwater Lake Mälaren flows  into the Baltic Sea. Vasastan is a central area that’s highly desirable with young professionals.

Built from stone in the latter half of the 19th century – in a true neo-renaissance and baroque style – Vasastan sprang up for the wealthy middle class, when the city expanded outside the city walls.

Similarly, Elizabeth Bay is a harbourside haunt dotted with many stylish apartments offering killer views. It’s still a place you can meander through charming laneways and remember Sydney’s historic, bohemian side.

Vasastaden, or colloquially Vasastan, is a small, three square kilometre district in central Stockholm. With about 51,661 inhabitants, it is the second most densely populated district in the city.

In the central part a 2 bed apartment will cost about $AUD 500,000. For that, you get a 30 sqm home and for 10 months of the year the average temperature is under 10 degrees.  In summer there can be up to 18 hours of sunlight and in winter, as little as 6.

An attic apartment in Vasastan, Stockholm.

In that neighbourhood you cannot buy a 3 bedroom house with a yard, because they don’t exist. A three bedroom apartment suited to a family with 100 sqm of space costs $AUD 1.7 mil.

Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point connects Darlinghurst to Elizabeth Bay.

In Elizabeth Bay, you can still get a contemporary studio measuring 67 sqm for $AUD 650,000 (i.e studio in 21 Elizabeth Bay Road) and you can get a penthouse style apartment on the 8th floor of the same building for $AUD 1.8 mil.

501/21 Elizabeth Bay Road Elizabeth Bay is one bedroom studio that recently sold for $650,000.

Stockholm quick facts

• Population: 900,000
• Median House price: $AUD 675,000
• Avg. Household income: $AUD  78,000
• Avg. size of home: 80 sqm
• Cost per square metre: $AUD 2,938

Where does that leave Sydney?

Inner-city Sydney property is now on par with many desirable neighbourhoods located in major cities around the world. These include Stockholm, Los Angeles and certain parts of New York State. Sydney property is more expensive than comparable neighbourhoods in Paris, but still less expensive than Berlin, London and Hong Kong.

The intangibles factors that keep investors and ex-pats flowing into Sydney’s inner-city market, include our startling holiday lifestyle, the temperate climate, access to facilities and abundant natural green space. The population is relatively low with just 4.2 million inhabitants. The median house price is still just over $1 mil and the average household income is $47,000 per year and the average home size is relatively large, at an average 285 sqm. With a cost per square metre of $3,500, the value of our city is certainly climbing, but is not yet over the horizon.

Jump to:

Sydney versus the world

Dalston vs. Redfern

Wan Chai vs. Darlinghurst

The Hamptons vs. Palm Beach

Mitte vs. Surry Hills

Venice Beach vs. Bondi Beach