Moving to Sweden from North Carolina
What to Expect
Considering a move from North Carolina to Sweden? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from North Carolina to Sweden, you would find that Sweden is 3.3% cheaper than North Carolina. A $75,000 salary in North Carolina would need to be roughly SEK680,768 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 67°F in Asheville, 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?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between North Carolina and Sweden.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → SEK680,768
To maintain the same standard of living in Sweden
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 6.1% more
Groceries
pay 7.8% less
Transportation
pay 49.6% more
Housing
pay 38.6% less
Childcare
pay 85.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 12.4% 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 18% less than cities in North Carolina.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from North Carolina to Sweden.
people moved from United States to Sweden · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Sweden compared to North Carolina.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Sweden performs significantly better than North Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
North Carolina 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
North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 | Asheville | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 52°/32°F (11°/0°C) | 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/53°F (24°/12°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 58°/38°F (15°/3°C) | 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Asheville | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/28°F (8.1°/-2.4°C) | 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) |
| Feb | 50°/31°F (10.2°/-0.6°C) | 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 58°/37°F (14.4°/2.9°C) | 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) |
| Apr | 67°/45°F (19.7°/7.3°C) | 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) |
| May | 75°/53°F (23.9°/11.7°C) | 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) |
| Jun | 82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C) | 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) |
| Jul | 85°/65°F (29.3°/18.1°C) | 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) |
| Aug | 84°/64°F (28.7°/17.7°C) | 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) |
| Sep | 77°/57°F (25.1°/13.8°C) | 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) |
| Oct | 68°/46°F (19.9°/7.9°C) | 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) |
| Nov | 58°/38°F (14.7°/3.1°C) | 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) |
| Dec | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-0.9°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 North Carolina?
On average Sweden is about 6% less expensive than North Carolina, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Sweden?
Budget about SEK170,192 for 3 months in Sweden (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Sweden?
From major Sweden cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in North Carolina and Sweden are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Sweden compared to North Carolina?
Sweden performs significantly better than North Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Sweden compared to North Carolina?
The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 67°F in Asheville. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while Asheville gets 37.0 in.
What language do they speak in Sweden?
The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In North Carolina, the official language is English.
