Moving to Sweden from Iowa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iowa to Sweden — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iowa to Sweden, you would find that Sweden is 5.2% more expensive than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly SEK802,027 in Sweden to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Swedish.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Iowa to Sweden.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → SEK802,027
To maintain the same standard of living in Sweden
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 5.6% more
Groceries
pay 11.0% more
Transportation
pay 82.5% more
Housing
pay 24.4% less
Childcare
pay 82.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 7.6% more
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 2% less than cities in Iowa.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Iowa to Sweden, based on official data.
people moved from United States to Sweden · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iowa to Sweden.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Sweden performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Sweden performs significantly better than Iowa 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
Iowa generally does better on employment & economy, though Sweden leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Sweden performs significantly better than Iowa 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 | Des Moines | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°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 Iowa?
No — Sweden is on average about 11% more expensive than Iowa. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Sweden?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly SEK200,507 in Sweden on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Sweden?
Usually fine from major cities in Sweden. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Sweden compared to Iowa?
Sweden performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Sweden compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Sweden?
The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In Iowa, the official language is English.
