Moving to Sweden from Belgium

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Belgium to Sweden? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Belgium to Sweden, you would find that Sweden is 13.2% cheaper than Belgium overall. A €65,577 salary in Belgium would need to be roughly SEK659,506 in Sweden to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Swedish.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Belgium and Sweden.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 SEK659,506

To maintain the same standard of living in Sweden

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 21.2% less

Groceries

pay 11.3% more

Transportation

pay 12.2% more

Housing

pay 20.9% less

Childcare

pay 76.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 9.0% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 11.03 SEK (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Belgium to Sweden.

Moved in 2023
363 ↑ 1% vs 2022

people moved from Belgium to Sweden · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Sweden?

Top countries of origin for Sweden's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Sweden compared to Belgium.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BE
1.1
SE
1.1
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

BE
62%
SE
73%

Sweden generally does better on safety, though Belgium leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

BE
$7,489
SE
$7,770
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BE
63.9
SE
71.5

Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BE
15.0
SE
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BE
7.3t
SE
3.6t

Sweden performs significantly better than Belgium across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BE
43.5
SE
40.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BE
51.9%
SE
3.6%

Belgium generally does better on infrastructure, though Sweden leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BE
5.5%
SE
7.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BE
$63,600
SE
$64,200

Belgium generally does better on employment & economy, though Sweden leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BE
81.9 yrs
SE
82.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BE
3.2
SE
2.3

Sweden performs significantly better than Belgium across all family life metrics.

Data: Service Public Fédéral Finances, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Brussels Rain: 32.3 in/yr (820 mm)
57° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Stockholm Rain: 21.5 in/yr (546 mm)
52° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Brussels Stockholm
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) 61°/45°F (16°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) 69°/56°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 43°/36°F (6°/2°C)
View all months
Month Brussels Stockholm
Jan 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C)
Feb 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C)
Mar 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C)
Apr 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C)
May 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C)
Jun 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C)
Jul 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C)
Aug 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C)
Sep 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C)
Oct 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C)
Nov 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C)

Data: Institut Royal Météorologique Institut Royal Météorologique, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Belgium and Sweden. To live, work, or study long-term in Sweden, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Sweden's immigration authority.

Belgium passport

Belgium passport holder visiting Sweden

Visa Free
Belgium passport holders can enter Sweden without a visa.
Sweden passport

Sweden passport holder visiting Belgium

Visa Free
Sweden passport holders can enter Belgium without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Sweden than Belgium?

On average Sweden is about 9% less expensive than Belgium, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Sweden?

Budget about SEK164,876 for 3 months in Sweden (based on a €65,577 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Sweden?

Connectivity is usually fine (Sweden: 40.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Sweden offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Sweden safe for expats?

Sweden generally does better on safety, though Belgium leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Sweden is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Belgium. About 73% of people in Sweden feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Sweden compared to Belgium?

Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 71.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Sweden, compared to 63.9 in Belgium. Sweden scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Belgium: 86).

What's the weather like in Sweden compared to Belgium?

The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 57°F in Brussels. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while Brussels gets 32.3 in.

What language do they speak in Sweden?

The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In Belgium, the official languages are Dutch, French and German.

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At a Glance

BE SE
Population 11,847,338 10,483,647
Currency Euro (€) Swedish Krona (SEK)
Languages Dutch, French, German Swedish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +32 +46
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112