Cost of Living in Sweden
The real cost of living in Sweden, in plain numbers, alongside take-home pay, tax and quality of life, all measured against the EU average so you can see where Sweden sits.
Where Sweden ranks in Europe
The headline picture
How to read this: a fuller bar means Sweden ranks better among the 30 European countries compared; the figure on the right is the actual value. Hover any bar to see the EU average.
On price level Sweden sits at 106.4 against an EU benchmark of 100, so day-to-day costs run 6% above the EU average. A single worker keeps about 34.624 net per year, while the tax wedge on labour is 40.4%, 6% above the EU average. The labour market reads: unemployment 8.8% and an employment rate of 81.8%. People report a life satisfaction of 7.4 out of 10 and a life expectancy of 83.8 years.
Cost of living & housing
What it costs to live in Sweden
Here is what it costs to be in Sweden day to day.
Price level. A price level of 106.4 means everyday spending runs 6% above the EU average, so budget against local prices rather than what you paid back home.
Household electricity. Power costs 0.2195 EUR/kWh here (25% below the EU average); worth modelling if you rent an older, less insulated flat where winter heating bites.
Housing cost overburden. 10.8% of residents spend more than 40% of income on housing (40% above the EU average); the higher this runs, the tighter the rental market tends to feel for arrivals without a local rental history.
Housing overcrowding. At 15.7% overcrowding (7% below the EU average) this is a proxy for typical home size; lower means more room for the same rent.
In practice, living in Sweden costs 6% above the EU average, but the number that really decides your monthly budget is rent, and that varies far more by city than the national average shows. Treat groceries, transport and utilities as the smaller, more predictable lines once housing is settled.
Work & income
Salaries, tax and jobs
What you earn, and keep, looks like this.
Net salary (single). A single worker keeps about 34.624 EUR/year net (29% above the EU average); read it next to the price level to judge real spending power, not just the headline.
Tax wedge on labour. At a 40.4% tax wedge (6% above the EU average) a chunk of any salary goes to income tax and social contributions before you see it, useful when comparing offers.
Unemployment. Unemployment sits at 8.8% (47% above the EU average); the higher it is, the more it pays to arrive with a contract already signed rather than job-hunting on the ground.
Employment rate. An employment rate of 81.8% (7% above the EU average) signals how much work is being done around you, useful context for the job hunt.
If you are moving to Sweden for work, read the salary against local prices: a 34.624 EUR/year net wage stretches less than the headline suggests, and the 40.4% tax wedge means take-home is smaller than a gross offer suggests. With unemployment at 8.8%, having a contract signed before you arrive is the safer route for most newcomers.
Safety & health
How safe and healthy is Sweden
Safety and health next.
Homicide rate. At 0.87 homicides per 100,000 (the 18th-lowest of 30 European countries) this is the hardest safety figure to game and a fair baseline for personal security.
Perceived crime. Perceived crime at 9.4% (6% below the EU average) reflects feeling as much as fact, but it is a useful steer for where arrivals tend to feel comfortable.
Life expectancy. At 83.8 years (around the EU average) life expectancy is a quiet signal of how well the health system and living conditions hold up over a lifetime.
Unmet healthcare need. Unmet healthcare need at 2.1% (12% below the EU average) hints at how reachable and affordable care will be once you register with the local system.
Is Sweden safe? On the hardest measure the homicide rate is the 18th-lowest of 30 European countries, a fair baseline for personal security, while perceived crime at 9.4% captures how neighbourhoods actually feel day to day. For healthcare, a 83.8-year life expectancy and a 2.1% unmet-need rate are a rough guide to how reachable care will be once you register locally.
Quality of life
The softer signals
Finally, the softer signals.
Life satisfaction. Self-reported life satisfaction is 7.4/10 (around the EU average); it tends to track job security and public services, the things that make settling in easier.
At-risk-of-poverty. An at-risk-of-poverty rate of 15.6% (around the EU average) shows how evenly prosperity is shared, relevant if you weigh long-term security.
Income inequality (Gini). Gini at 28.6 (around the EU average) measures income spread; higher tends to mean sharper differences between neighbourhoods and price tiers.
Broadband coverage. Broadband reaches 95.72% of households (around the EU average); a real factor if you plan to work remotely or run anything online from home.
The softer signals of living in Sweden: a 7.4/10 satisfaction score (around the EU average), a 15.6% at-risk-of-poverty rate that reflects the safety net, and broadband at 95.72% of homes. Together they sketch how settled daily life feels once the practical set-up is behind you.
Compared with its neighbours
Sweden compared
| Country | Price level EU=100 |
Net salary (single) €/yr |
Tax wedge on labour % |
Life satisfaction /10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 106.4 | 34.624 | 40.4 | 7.4 |
| Norway | 131.2 | 45.795 | 32.4 | 7.7 |
| Denmark | 120.2 | 41.981 | 34.1 | 7.7 |
| Finland | 109.8 | 33.641 | 33.3 | 7.8 |
Sweden set against the neighbours people most often weigh it against. National averages from Eurostat; living costs vary widely within each country.
Practical guides
Setting up life in Sweden
Decided on Sweden? These are the practical set-up steps for week one.
Common questions
Cost of living in Sweden: FAQ
Is Sweden a good place to live?
On the numbers it is strong on wellbeing: life satisfaction 7.4/10 and life expectancy 83.8 years. The figure to weigh against that is the labour market, with unemployment at 8.8%. So Sweden tends to suit people who arrive with an income already arranged.
What is the cost of living in Sweden?
The overall price level is 106.4 against EU=100, i.e. 6% above the EU average. Electricity is 0.2195 €/kWh and 10.8% of people are housing-cost overburdened.
What is the average salary in Sweden?
A single worker keeps roughly 34.624 €/year net. There is no statutory minimum wage; pay floors are set by collective agreement.
How high are taxes in Sweden?
The tax wedge on labour (income tax plus social contributions, single worker) is 40.4%, 6% above the EU average of 38%.
What is working in Sweden like?
The employment rate (20–64) is 81.8% and unemployment 8.8%. Securing a role before relocating is the safer route.
Source: Eurostat (multiple datasets, latest available years). National averages; figures vary by region and city. See the methodology.