Moving to Sweden from United States
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United States to Sweden — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United States to Sweden, you would find that Sweden is 8.3% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly SEK562,567 in Sweden to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Swedish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Stockholm averages 52°F vs 66°F in Washington, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from United States to Sweden.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → SEK562,567
To maintain the same standard of living in Sweden
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 3.8% less
Groceries
pay 6.9% less
Transportation
pay 44.1% more
Housing
pay 43.4% less
Childcare
pay 85.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 1.0% 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.
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 38% less than cities in United States.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from United States to Sweden, based on official data.
people moved from United States to Sweden · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United States 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 performs significantly better than United States 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
Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States 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 significantly better than United States 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 States generally does better on infrastructure, though Sweden 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
share of people below the poverty line
United States performs 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 performs significantly better than United States across all family life metrics.
Data: Internal Revenue Service, 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 | Washington | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) | 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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 States passport holder visiting Sweden
Visa Free
Sweden passport holder visiting United States
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 States?
Yes — Sweden is on average about 22% cheaper than United States. 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 SEK140,642 in Sweden on a $75,000 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?
Sweden performs significantly better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sweden is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States. About 73% of people in Sweden feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Sweden compared to United States?
Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in health coverage index. There are 71.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Sweden, compared to 36.1 in United States. Sweden scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Sweden compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Sweden?
The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In United States, the official language is English.
