Moving to Sweden from Hong Kong
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Hong Kong to Sweden — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Hong Kong to Sweden, you would find that Sweden is 2.2% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$587,771 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly SEK483,572 in Sweden to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Swedish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Stockholm averages 52°F vs 79°F in Hong Kong, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Hong Kong to Sweden.
What does your salary buy?
HK$587,771 → SEK483,572
To maintain the same standard of living in Sweden
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 84.8% more
Groceries
pay 4.8% less
Transportation
pay 8.6% more
Housing
pay 23.4% less
Childcare
pay 83.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 10.3% 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.
Get free moving quotes to Sweden
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Hong Kong to Sweden, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How Hong Kong and Sweden stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than Sweden across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Sweden performs significantly better than Hong Kong across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Sweden performs significantly better than Hong Kong across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Hong Kong performs better than Sweden across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Sweden generally does better on family life, though Hong Kong leads in life expectancy.
Data: Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Hong Kong | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong 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.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Sweden
Visa Free
Sweden passport holder visiting Hong Kong
Visa FreeData: 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 Hong Kong?
Generally yes: Sweden runs about 30% cheaper than Hong Kong 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 HK$587,771 comparable salary, that's around SEK120,893 in Sweden for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, deposits, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Sweden?
With 40.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Sweden can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Hong Kong and Sweden.
Is Sweden safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs better than Sweden across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sweden is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in Sweden compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in Sweden?
The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
