Moving to Sweden from Nigeria

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Nigeria to Sweden — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Nigeria to Sweden, you would find that Sweden is 2.5 times more expensive than Nigeria overall. A NGN100,000,000 salary in Nigeria would need to be roughly SEK1,840,000 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 87°F in Lagos, making it significantly cooler.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Sweden cheaper than Nigeria?

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 4.4 times more

Groceries

pay 91.4% more

Transportation

pay 2.6 times more

Housing

pay 2.2 times more

Childcare

pay 12.6% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 3.6 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 NGN = 0.0074 SEK (October 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.

What salary do you need in Sweden?

What does your salary buy?

NGN100,000,000 → SEK1,840,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Sweden

Calculate with your salary →

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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Nigeria to Sweden, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
777 ↓ 4% vs 2022

people moved from Nigeria 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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Nigeria to Sweden.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

NG
15.8
SE
1.1
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

NG
79%
SE
73%

Sweden generally does better on safety, though Nigeria leads in feel safe walking at night.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

NG
$260
SE
$7,770
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

NG
3.8
SE
44.1

Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

NG
77.0
SE
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NG
0.6t
SE
3.6t

Nigeria generally does better on environment, though Sweden leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NG
0.1
SE
40.6
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NG
9.7%
SE
3.6%

Sweden performs significantly better than Nigeria across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NG
3.1%
SE
8.7%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

NG
$1,224
SE
$63,133

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

NG
54.6 yrs
SE
84.1 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NG
69.8
SE
2.0

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

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024), Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria (2016), Skatteverket (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in Sweden vs Nigeria

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lagos Rain: 60.6 in/yr (1538 mm)
87° / 73°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lagos Stockholm
Jan–Mar 91°/74°F (33°/23°C) 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/74°F (31°/23°C) 61°/45°F (16°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/71°F (28°/22°C) 69°/56°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 88°/72°F (31°/22°C) 43°/36°F (6°/2°C)
View all months
Month Lagos Stockholm
Jan 90°/72°F (32.2°/22.3°C) 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C)
Feb 92°/74°F (33.1°/23.5°C) 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C)
Mar 91°/75°F (32.7°/23.8°C) 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C)
Apr 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.6°C) 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C)
May 88°/74°F (30.9°/23.1°C) 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C)
Jun 85°/73°F (29.2°/22.6°C) 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C)
Jul 83°/72°F (28.1°/22.1°C) 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C)
Aug 83°/71°F (28.1°/21.7°C) 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C)
Sep 84°/71°F (28.9°/21.9°C) 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C)
Oct 87°/72°F (30.4°/22.3°C) 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C)
Nov 88°/73°F (31.0°/22.6°C) 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C)
Dec 89°/72°F (31.9°/22.4°C) 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C)

Data: Nigerian Meteorological Agency Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)

Can you move from Nigeria to Sweden?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Nigeria 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.

Nigeria passport

Nigeria passport holder visiting Sweden

Visa Required
Nigeria passport holders need a visa to enter Sweden.
Sweden passport

Sweden passport holder visiting Nigeria

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Sweden passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Nigeria.

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 Nigeria?

No — Sweden is on average about 147% more expensive than Nigeria. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Sweden?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly SEK460,000 in Sweden on a NGN100,000,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Sweden?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Sweden has 40.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Sweden safe for expats?

Sweden generally does better on safety, though Nigeria leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Sweden is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 15.8 in Nigeria. About 73% of people in Sweden feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Sweden compared to Nigeria?

Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 44.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Sweden, compared to 3.8 in Nigeria. Sweden scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Nigeria: 38).

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

The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 87°F in Lagos. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while Lagos gets 60.6 in.

What language do they speak in Sweden?

The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In Nigeria, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

NG SE
Population 237,527,782 10,596,620
Currency Nigerian Naira (NGN) Swedish Krona (SEK)
Languages English Swedish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +234 +46
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112