Moving to Sweden from Japan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Japan to Sweden? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Japan to Sweden, you would find that Sweden is 46.6% more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥12,124,875 salary in Japan would need to be roughly SEK1,008,259 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 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Japan and Sweden.
What does your salary buy?
¥12,124,875 → SEK1,008,259
To maintain the same standard of living in Sweden
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.4 times more
Groceries
pay 18.4% more
Transportation
pay 35.6% more
Housing
pay 42.2% more
Childcare
pay 58.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 70.1% 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 34% more than cities in Japan.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Japan to Sweden.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Sweden compared to Japan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Japan generally does better on safety, though Sweden leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Sweden performs significantly better than Japan across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Sweden performs significantly better than Japan 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
share of people below the poverty line
Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Sweden leads in gdp per capita.
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
Japan generally does better on family life, though Sweden leads in education spending.
Data: National Tax Agency Japan, 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 | Tokyo | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan 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.
Japan passport holder visiting Sweden
Visa Free
Sweden passport holder visiting Japan
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 Japan?
On average Sweden is around 38% pricier than Japan, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Sweden?
Budget about SEK252,065 for 3 months in Sweden (based on a ¥12,124,875 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?
Japan generally does better on safety, though Sweden leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Sweden is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan. About 73% of people in Sweden feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Sweden compared to Japan?
Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 71.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Sweden, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Sweden scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Sweden compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Sweden?
The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
