Moving to Bolivia from Sweden

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Sweden to Bolivia, you would find that Bolivia is 67.0% cheaper than Sweden overall. A SEK750,000 salary in Sweden would need to be roughly BOB273,000 in Bolivia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua and Spanish.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Sweden to Bolivia.

What does your salary buy?

SEK750,000 → BOB273,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Bolivia

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 76.3% less

Groceries

pay 64.6% less

Transportation

pay 65.3% less

Housing

pay 70.2% less

Childcare

pay 45.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 67.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 SEK = 1.1 BOB (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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
325 ↑ 11% vs 2015

people born in Sweden live in Bolivia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Bolivia?

Top countries of origin for Bolivia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

SE
1.1
BO
4.4
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

SE
73%
BO
59%

Sweden performs better than Bolivia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SE
$7,770
BO
$756
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SE
44.1
BO
12.8

Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bolivia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SE
8.0
BO
54.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SE
3.6t
BO
2.3t

Sweden generally does better on environment, though Bolivia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SE
40.6
BO
12.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SE
3.6%
BO
0.2%

Sweden generally does better on infrastructure, though Bolivia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

SE
8.7%
BO
3.0%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

SE
$63,133
BO
$5,148

Sweden generally does better on employment & economy, though Bolivia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

SE
84.1 yrs
BO
68.7 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SE
2.0
BO
14.2

Sweden generally does better on family life, though Bolivia leads in education spending.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024), Skatteverket (2016), Autoridad de Impugnación Tributaria (AIT), Bolivia (2016). How we calculate this

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sweden and Bolivia. To live, work, or study long-term in Bolivia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Bolivia's immigration authority.

Sweden passport

Sweden passport holder visiting Bolivia

Visa Free
Sweden passport holders can enter Bolivia without a visa.
Bolivia passport

Bolivia passport holder visiting Sweden

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

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 Bolivia than Sweden?

Yes — Bolivia is on average about 67% cheaper than Sweden. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Bolivia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly BOB68,250 in Bolivia on a SEK750,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Bolivia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Bolivia has 12.1 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 Bolivia safe for expats?

Sweden performs better than Bolivia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bolivia is 4.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Sweden. About 59% of people in Bolivia feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Bolivia compared to Sweden?

Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bolivia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Bolivia, compared to 44.1 in Sweden. Bolivia scores 65 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sweden: 85).

What language do they speak in Bolivia?

The official languages in Bolivia are Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua and Spanish. In Sweden, the official language is Swedish.

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At a Glance

SE BO
Population 10,596,620 12,581,843
Currency Swedish Krona (SEK) Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)
Languages Swedish Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +46 +591
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 110