Moving to South Korea from Sweden
What to Expect
Considering a move from Sweden to South Korea? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Sweden to South Korea, you would find that South Korea is 9.7% more expensive than Sweden overall. A SEK693,101 salary in Sweden would need to be roughly ₩91,928,501 in South Korea to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Seoul averages 63°F vs 52°F in Stockholm, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Sweden and South Korea.
What does your salary buy?
SEK693,101 → ₩91,928,501
To maintain the same standard of living in South Korea
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 52.4% less
Groceries
pay 35.1% more
Transportation
pay 41.2% less
Housing
pay 26.6% less
Childcare
pay 3.0 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 33.0% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Sweden to South Korea.
people moved from Sweden to South Korea · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to South Korea?
Top countries of origin for South Korea's foreign-born residents.
- 803,011
- 177,274
- 159,264
- 68,050
- 64,942
- 55,601
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in South Korea compared to Sweden.
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
Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea 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 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: Skatteverket, 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 | Stockholm | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) | 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) | 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) | 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) | 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Stockholm | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) |
| Feb | 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) | 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) | 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) |
| Apr | 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) | 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) |
| May | 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) | 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) |
| Jun | 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) | 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) |
| Jul | 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) | 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) |
| Aug | 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) | 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) |
| Sep | 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) |
| Oct | 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) | 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) |
| Nov | 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) |
| Dec | 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) | 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) |
Data:
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI),
Korea Meteorological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sweden and South Korea. To live, work, or study long-term in South Korea, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Korea's immigration authority.
Sweden passport holder visiting South Korea
Visa Free
South Korea passport holder visiting Sweden
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 South Korea than Sweden?
On average South Korea is about 19% less expensive than Sweden, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to South Korea?
Budget about ₩22,982,125 for 3 months in South Korea (based on a SEK693,101 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from South Korea?
Connectivity is usually fine (South Korea: 45.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does South Korea offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is South Korea safe for expats?
Sweden generally does better on safety, though South Korea leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Sweden. About 64% of people in South Korea feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Sweden?
Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in South Korea, compared to 71.5 in Sweden. South Korea scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sweden: 85).
What's the weather like in South Korea compared to Sweden?
The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 52°F in Stockholm. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while Stockholm gets 21.5 in.
What language do they speak in South Korea?
The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Sweden, the official language is Swedish.
