Moving to Switzerland from Sweden
What to Expect
Considering a move from Sweden to Switzerland? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Sweden to Switzerland, you would find that Switzerland is 3.2 times more expensive than Sweden overall. A SEK693,101 salary in Sweden would need to be roughly CHF107,246 in Switzerland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Sweden and Switzerland.
What does your salary buy?
SEK693,101 → CHF107,246
To maintain the same standard of living in Switzerland
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.0 times more
Groceries
pay 52.5% more
Transportation
pay 43.0% more
Housing
pay 92.3% more
Childcare
pay 12.7 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 53.9% 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 Switzerland
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 Sweden to Switzerland.
people moved from Sweden to Switzerland · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Switzerland 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 Switzerland 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 Switzerland leads in health coverage index.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Sweden performs better than Switzerland 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 Switzerland 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
Switzerland performs significantly better than Sweden across all employment & economy metrics.
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 Switzerland 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 | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Stockholm | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) |
| Feb | 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) |
| Mar | 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) |
| Apr | 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) |
| May | 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) |
| Jun | 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) |
| Jul | 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) |
| Aug | 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) |
| Sep | 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) |
| Oct | 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) |
| Nov | 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) |
| Dec | 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) |
Data:
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI),
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sweden and Switzerland. To live, work, or study long-term in Switzerland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Switzerland's immigration authority.
Sweden passport holder visiting Switzerland
Visa Free
Switzerland 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 Switzerland than Sweden?
On average Switzerland is around 83% pricier than Sweden, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Switzerland?
Budget about CHF26,812 for 3 months in Switzerland (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 Switzerland?
Connectivity is usually fine (Switzerland: 47.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Switzerland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Switzerland safe for expats?
Sweden generally does better on safety, though Switzerland leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Switzerland is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Sweden. About 72% of people in Switzerland feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Sweden?
Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in health coverage index. There are 44.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Switzerland, compared to 71.5 in Sweden. Switzerland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sweden: 85).
What's the weather like in Switzerland compared to Sweden?
The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 52°F in Stockholm. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Stockholm gets 21.5 in.
What language do they speak in Switzerland?
The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Sweden, the official language is Swedish.
