Moving to Sweden from United Kingdom
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United Kingdom to Sweden — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United Kingdom to Sweden, you would find that Sweden is 10.8% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £55,958 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly SEK637,185 in Sweden to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Swedish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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What to expect for your wallet after moving from United Kingdom to Sweden.
What does your salary buy?
£55,958 → SEK637,185
To maintain the same standard of living in Sweden
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 6.9% more
Groceries
pay 27.3% more
Transportation
pay 4.3% less
Housing
pay 32.0% less
Childcare
pay 84.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 5.9% 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 Sweden cost about 10% less than cities in United Kingdom.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from United Kingdom to Sweden, based on official data.
people moved from United Kingdom to Sweden · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Kingdom to Sweden.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom generally does better on safety, though Sweden leads in road traffic deaths.
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
United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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
share of households with internet
United Kingdom generally does better on infrastructure, though Sweden leads in water stress level.
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
United Kingdom 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 performs significantly better than United Kingdom across all family life metrics.
Data: HM Revenue & Customs, 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 | London | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) | 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | London | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) | 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) | 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) | 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) |
| Apr | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) | 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) |
| May | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) | 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) |
| Jun | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) | 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) |
| Jul | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) | 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) | 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) |
| Sep | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) | 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) |
| Oct | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) | 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) |
| Nov | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) | 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) |
| Dec | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) | 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) |
Data:
Met Office,
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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.
United Kingdom passport holder visiting Sweden
Visa Free
Sweden passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 United Kingdom?
Yes — Sweden is on average about 13% cheaper than United Kingdom. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Sweden?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly SEK159,296 in Sweden on a £55,958 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Sweden?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Sweden has 40.4 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 Sweden safe for expats?
United Kingdom generally does better on safety, though Sweden leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Sweden is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.
How is healthcare in Sweden compared to United Kingdom?
United Kingdom 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 31.7 in United Kingdom. Sweden scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).
What's the weather like in Sweden compared to United Kingdom?
The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 60°F in London. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.
What language do they speak in Sweden?
The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.
