Moving to Sweden from South Africa
What to Expect
Considering a move from South Africa to Sweden? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from South Africa to Sweden, you would find that Sweden is 57.4% more expensive than South Africa overall. A ZAR1,200,000 salary in South Africa would need to be roughly SEK1,130,000 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 71°F in Johannesburg, 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 South Africa?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 69.4% more
Groceries
pay 65.7% more
Transportation
pay 24.5% more
Housing
pay 68.6% more
Childcare
pay 7.7% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.0 times 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.
What salary do you need in Sweden?
What does your salary buy?
ZAR1,200,000 → SEK1,130,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Sweden
Calculate with your salary →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 28% more than cities in South Africa.
Compare cities head-to-head
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?
What the data shows about people moving from South Africa to Sweden.
people moved from South Africa to Sweden · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Sweden compared to South Africa.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Sweden performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
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 South Africa 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 South Africa 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 South Africa 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
Sweden generally does better on employment & economy, though South Africa leads in top income tax rate.
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 performs significantly better than South Africa across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024), South African Revenue Service (2017), Skatteverket (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in Sweden vs South Africa
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Johannesburg | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 77°/57°F (25°/14°C) | 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 66°/45°F (19°/7°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 67°/44°F (20°/7°C) | 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Johannesburg | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°/58°F (25.6°/14.7°C) | 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) |
| Feb | 77°/57°F (25.1°/14.1°C) | 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 75°/56°F (24.0°/13.1°C) | 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) |
| Apr | 70°/51°F (21.1°/10.3°C) | 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) |
| May | 66°/45°F (18.9°/7.2°C) | 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) |
| Jun | 61°/39°F (16.0°/4.1°C) | 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) |
| Jul | 62°/39°F (16.7°/4.1°C) | 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) |
| Aug | 67°/43°F (19.4°/6.2°C) | 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) |
| Sep | 73°/49°F (22.8°/9.3°C) | 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) |
| Oct | 75°/52°F (23.8°/11.2°C) | 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) |
| Nov | 76°/55°F (24.2°/12.7°C) | 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) |
| Dec | 77°/57°F (25.2°/13.9°C) | 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) |
Data:
South African Weather Service,
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)
Can you move from South Africa to Sweden?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Africa 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.
South Africa passport holder visiting Sweden
Visa Required
Sweden passport holder visiting South Africa
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 South Africa?
On average Sweden is around 57% pricier than South Africa, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Sweden?
Budget about SEK282,500 for 3 months in Sweden (based on a ZAR1,200,000 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: 40.6 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?
Sweden performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sweden is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 43.7 in South Africa. About 73% of people in Sweden feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Sweden compared to South Africa?
Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 44.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Sweden, compared to 7.9 in South Africa. Sweden scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Africa: 71).
What's the weather like in Sweden compared to South Africa?
The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 71°F in Johannesburg. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while Johannesburg gets 28.1 in.
What language do they speak in Sweden?
The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In South Africa, the official languages are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
Compare further: South Africa vs. Sweden
At a Glance
ZA
|
SE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 64,747,319 | 10,596,620 |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) | Swedish Krona (SEK) |
| Languages | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu | Swedish |
| Driving side | Left | Right |
| Calling code | +27 | +46 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 10111 | 112 |