27 Pros and Cons of Living in Sweden in 2024

1. Pro: Right to nature

One of the great things about living in Sweden is the amazing access to nature!

There is a freedom-to-roam law in place, known as Allemansrätten to locals.

The freedom to roam law includes the right to camp, hike, and swim anywhere without the landowner’s permission, as long as you keep a respectful distance from residences.

You can also forage and drive down private roads unless it tells you otherwise.

It doesn’t matter if you want to kayak in Lake Vättern or try and catch the Northern lights in Swedish Lapland, you have the right to use nature peacefully and how you like in Sweden.

2. Con: Weather isn’t great

Even though you have the right to explore nature in Sweden at all times, the weather may not help you with that!

Sweden is close to the North Atlantic, so you can expect very cold and dark winters. In some parts of the country, especially the North, temperatures become arctic during the winter months.

For the rest of the year, temperatures are mild, but you can expect rain regularly.

3. Pro: The coastline

Sweden is an absolutely stunning place for natural wonders, including its coastline!

From the Swedish Rivera in the south to Laholmsbuktens Strand on the west coast, there are endless great places to relax.

This is one of the top advantages of living in Sweden, according to those who live there!

If you want to live somewhere with easy access to the beach any time of year, you have plenty of choices in Sweden.

4. Con: Higher cost of living

Sweden does have a pretty high cost of living compared to most countries.

Your average monthly costs will be around €810.00 before you pay your rent.

The cost of transport, housing, energy, and food are more expensive than in other European countries.

And if you want to live somewhere with an amazing coastal view, you will pay even more!

5. Pro: English speaking

You might be asking yourself, “can I survive with English in Sweden?”

One of the benefits of life in Sweden for foreigners is most Swedish people speak multiple languages.

And most of them speak English flawlessly!

This makes life in Sweden a bit easier, especially when you first move there.

But here are some words to learn in Swedish: hello, goodbye, how are you, yes/no, please, water, I love you, thank you, and cheers.

6. Con: Hard to make friends

Making new friends is hard wherever you move, but it can be more challenging in Sweden.

People in Sweden tend to be more reserved, and it may take you a few months before you feel like you are their friend.

But with a bit of effort and patience, you will have friends for life!

🤝 Making Swedish friends is hard but not impossible. Join MeetUp and put the A into Action!

8. Con: Afraid of conflict

The Swedish are known as being afraid of conflict and will do anything to avoid it.

So if you are looking for some constructive criticism, you may struggle to find it in Sweden!

9. Pro: First-class working environment

Sweden’s amazing working environments have made it a top-rated destination for ex-pats.

Not only do you get a minimum of 25 paid vacation days a year, but you can take 4 weeks’ worth of it at the same time!

Your sick leave is also covered by your employer, who will support you for the first 14 days. If you are sick long-term, you may be compensated by the government.

These working benefits make this a fantastic place to get a work permit, especially if you are from the United States.

10. Con: High taxes

One of the disadvantages of living and working in this region of Scandinavia is the high taxes.

Most residents only pay an annual income tax which on average is 30%.

The amount you pay depends on factors like your salary, where you live, and your residency status.

But the government offers many benefits like pension support, healthcare, and child daycare.

11. Pro: Fika

If you ask anyone for a positive for living in Sweden, Fika would be at the top of the list!

But what is Fika?

It is where you take a break from your day and talk to your co-workers or friends.

This ritual is an important part of Swedish culture and is best enjoyed with coffee and cake!

Fika is practiced in workplaces all over Sweden, so expect it to become part of your daily life.

16. Con: Conformist culture

Even though Swedish society is typically very open-minded, you still have to conform to what is known as the Law of Jante.

These are found in many Nordic countries and are a set of unwritten rules you must follow in day-to-day life, like always splitting the bill and returning all favors, etc.

The key message is simple: you are no better than anyone else.

For Swedish people, these are totally normal rules. But for an expat, these unspoken customs can be overwhelming and hard to remember.

19. Pro: Clean air and streets

Nordic countries love preserving nature.

From clean drinking water to safe air, Sweden provides top-quality environments for its people to live in.

Sweden also has multiple laws in place in regard to pollution and waste disposal that they take very seriously.

For anyone wanting to live somewhere that is incredibly clean and healthy, Sweden is for you!

20. Con: There are no major cities

If you are moving from the US, Canada, or somewhere with many large cities, this may be hard to adjust to.

Even though there is Stockholm, Malmö, and Gothenburg, there is a lack of urban areas in comparison.

So If you are moving from a big city, live in Stockholm when you first arrive to help you adjust!

21. Pro: Sweden has lots of great food

There are so many reasons to live in Sweden, and the food is one of them.

From meatballs to traditional cinnamon rolls, Sweden’s strong cafe culture will give you plenty of opportunities to try everything!

22. Con: Alcohol is expensive

Due to the hard winters, Sweden has had a history of alcoholism.

To tackle this, the government made buying alcohol expensive.

 And if you want to have a drink at home, you must purchase anything over 3.5% alcohol from a ‘Systembolaget’ (specialist shop).

So if you fancy a glass of wine with your next meal out, expect to pay a lot!

24. Cons: Housing Shortages

Unfortunately, like most popular expat destinations in Europe, there is a housing shortage.

It is incredibly competitive to find a rental property, so it is worth asking your employer to help you.

Having someone whose job is to find the perfect house, check out contracts and negotiate for you will save you so much time and stress!

25. Pro: Free education

With over 40 universities throughout Sweden, there are plenty of learning and career-developing opportunities here.

And because the Swedish Government values education so much, they provide it for free!

Children are educated until the age of 16 as a legal requirement.

And for those wanting access to higher education, anyone who is Swedish, an EU citizen, or has permanent Swedish residency can study without paying.

26. Con: Education isn’t free for everyone

Even though free education is available throughout Sweden, this does not apply to everyone.

It is free and tax-funded for children to attend school until the age of 16.

To access higher education, you will have to pay unless you are Swedish, an EU citizen, or have full residency status in Sweden.

27. Pro: Great internet speed

Sweden has one of the fastest internet speeds in the world, and nearly all households are connected.

Provider options are also reasonable, and free Wifi is available in most public spaces.