Moving to Sweden from South Korea
What to Expect
Considering a move from South Korea to Sweden? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from South Korea to Sweden, you would find that Sweden is 41.7% more expensive than South Korea overall. A ₩113,056,500 salary in South Korea would need to be roughly SEK852,403 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 63°F in Seoul, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between South Korea and Sweden.
What does your salary buy?
₩113,056,500 → SEK852,403
To maintain the same standard of living in Sweden
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.1 times more
Groceries
pay 10.8% less
Transportation
pay 88.9% more
Housing
pay 61.4% more
Childcare
pay 65.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 73.5% 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.
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 Korea to Sweden.
people moved from South Korea to Sweden · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Sweden compared to South Korea.
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 generally does better on safety, though South Korea leads in homicide rate.
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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
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 Korea 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
Sweden generally does better on infrastructure, though South Korea leads in broadband per 100 people.
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
South Korea 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
Sweden generally does better on family life, though South Korea leads in life expectancy.
Data: National Tax Service, South Korea, 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 | Seoul | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) | 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) | 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) | 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Seoul | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) | 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) |
| Feb | 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) | 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) | 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) |
| Apr | 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) | 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) |
| May | 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) | 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) |
| Jun | 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) | 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) |
| Jul | 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) | 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) |
| Aug | 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) | 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) |
| Sep | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) | 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) |
| Oct | 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) | 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) |
| Nov | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) | 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) |
| Dec | 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) | 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) |
Data:
Korea Meteorological Administration,
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Korea 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 Korea passport holder visiting Sweden
Visa Free
Sweden passport holder visiting South Korea
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 Korea?
On average Sweden is around 23% pricier than South Korea, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Sweden?
Budget about SEK213,101 for 3 months in Sweden (based on a ₩113,056,500 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, 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?
Sweden generally does better on safety, though South Korea leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Sweden is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in South Korea. About 73% of people in Sweden feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Sweden compared to South Korea?
South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 71.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Sweden, compared to 25.2 in South Korea. Sweden scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Korea: 89).
What's the weather like in Sweden compared to South Korea?
The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 63°F in Seoul. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while Seoul gets 55.8 in.
What language do they speak in Sweden?
The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In South Korea, the official language is Korean.
