Moving to India from Sweden
What to Expect
Considering a move from Sweden to India? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Sweden to India, you would find that India is 78.4% cheaper than Sweden overall. A SEK750,000 salary in Sweden would need to be roughly ₹1,570,000 in India to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English, Hindi and Tamil. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Delhi averages 88°F vs 52°F in Stockholm, making it significantly warmer.
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 Sweden and India.
What does your salary buy?
SEK750,000 → ₹1,570,000
To maintain the same standard of living in India
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 81.2% less
Groceries
pay 74.1% less
Transportation
pay 70.0% less
Housing
pay 85.2% less
Childcare
pay 73.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 70.6% less
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 India cost about 65% less than cities in Sweden.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to India
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
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in India compared to Sweden.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Sweden performs better than India 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
India 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 generally does better on environment, though India leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
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 better than India 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 India leads in unemployment 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 better than India across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Skatteverket (2016), Ministry of Finance, Government of India (2016), The World Factbook (2011). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Stockholm | Delhi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) | 76°/52°F (25°/11°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) | 101°/78°F (38°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) | 93°/79°F (34°/26°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) | 82°/56°F (28°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Stockholm | Delhi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) | 69°/46°F (20.8°/7.8°C) |
| Feb | 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) | 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.3°C) |
| Mar | 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) | 85°/60°F (29.6°/15.4°C) |
| Apr | 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) | 97°/71°F (36.0°/21.5°C) |
| May | 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) | 104°/79°F (39.8°/26.2°C) |
| Jun | 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) | 103°/83°F (39.4°/28.3°C) |
| Jul | 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) | 95°/81°F (35.2°/27.0°C) |
| Aug | 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) | 92°/79°F (33.6°/26.2°C) |
| Sep | 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) | 93°/76°F (34.0°/24.7°C) |
| Oct | 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) | 91°/67°F (32.9°/19.4°C) |
| Nov | 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) | 82°/55°F (28.0°/12.8°C) |
| Dec | 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) | 73°/47°F (22.7°/8.4°C) |
Data:
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI),
India Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sweden and India. To live, work, or study long-term in India, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check India's immigration authority.
Sweden passport holder visiting India
Visa Online (e-Visa)
India passport holder visiting Sweden
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in India than Sweden?
On average India is about 78% less expensive than Sweden, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to India?
Budget about ₹392,500 for 3 months in India (based on a SEK750,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from India?
Connectivity is usually fine (India: 3.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does India offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is India safe for expats?
Sweden performs better than India across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in India is 2.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Sweden.
How is healthcare in India compared to Sweden?
India generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 7.2 doctors per 10,000 people in India, compared to 44.1 in Sweden. India scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sweden: 85).
What's the weather like in India compared to Sweden?
The average high temperature in Delhi is 88°F, compared to 52°F in Stockholm. Delhi receives around 28.2 in of rainfall per year, while Stockholm gets 21.5 in.
What language do they speak in India?
The official languages in India are English, Hindi and Tamil. In Sweden, the official language is Swedish.
