Moving to Sweden from California
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from California to Sweden — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from California to Sweden, you would find that Sweden is 18.3% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly SEK563,229 in Sweden to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Swedish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Stockholm averages 52°F vs 74°F in Sacramento, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from California to Sweden.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → SEK563,229
To maintain the same standard of living in Sweden
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 12.5% less
Groceries
pay 16.0% less
Transportation
pay 25.9% more
Housing
pay 53.4% less
Childcare
pay 88.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 13.6% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Sweden cost about 36% less than cities in California.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from California to Sweden, and how the trend has changed.
people moved from United States to Sweden · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
How California and Sweden stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Sweden performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
California performs better than Sweden across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
California performs better than Sweden across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Sweden performs significantly better than California across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sacramento | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) | 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) | 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) | 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sacramento | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) | 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) |
| Feb | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) | 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) | 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) |
| Apr | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) | 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) |
| May | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) | 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) |
| Jun | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) | 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) |
| Jul | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) | 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) |
| Aug | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) | 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) |
| Sep | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) | 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) |
| Oct | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) | 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) |
| Nov | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) | 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) |
| Dec | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) | 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Sweden
Visa Free
Sweden passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 California?
Generally yes: Sweden runs about 22% cheaper than California on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Sweden?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around SEK140,807 in Sweden for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Sweden?
Working remotely from Sweden's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in California and Sweden.
How is healthcare in Sweden compared to California?
Sweden performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Sweden compared to California?
The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.
What language do they speak in Sweden?
The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In California, the official language is English.
