Before introducing this article, if you are interested in our core services which are expat financial, insurance and mortgages, you can contact me here. 

The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.

Introduction

Welcome to Sweden, home to the famous hotel finely crafted with ice, hometown to Ikea’s founder, land of the archipelagos. Sweden takes the third spot worldwide as the country with the highest quality of life. The Scandinavian country is an attraction site for expats to thrive.

Nonetheless, are you confused about what city would be suitable for you as an expat in Sweden? A city where you don’t miss out on the quality of life Sweden is known for? Stop running a hand through your hair in frustration; this article is going to provide you with the best cities for expats in Sweden.

There’s no doubt that Sweden’s fika culture of cake and coffee is more like a mini-vacay. Perhaps, that’s what’s making your taste buds swoon; the idea of taking a break to relax is like sun tanning on the beach with a glass of wine. Except, in Sweden, it’s a cup of coffee.

Sweden cities are known to be diverse; what one city offers you is different from another. That’s the thrill of being a Swedish expat; the bliss is never-ending. Being one of the world’s wealthiest countries makes it a top destination for expats. Searching for a Swedish city to live in? Sweden will have you exploring all its cities without sticking to one.

This article will provide you with the best cities for expats in Sweden and a thorough guide to the lifestyle in each city. Are you prepared to be an expert in guiding other Swedish expats through the country? Take a seat back; let’s beat Dora at making you the best explorer.

Best Cities for Expats in Sweden

Stockholm

Population: 1,656,571

Temperature: 14-23° summer, 4-0°C winter

Firing with the best named Stockholm, the capital of Sweden and the most luxurious of all Swedish cities, is a safe home for expats. A hub for water even Moana can’t resist, Stockholm is known as the Venice of the North due to its numerous islands that spreads across the Baltic sea. The city is located on the southeastern coast of Sweden and is home to royal palaces.

Stockholm is a hotspot for the Swedish culture, from exciting historical places to fascinating museums and aesthetic arts and galleries that make the artist in you flutter with euphoria. Stockholm also holds the world’s greatest preserved ship, the Vasa ship, pressed in the Vasa Museum, Sweden’s most visited museum.

If you are proudly a foodie, you should know Stockholm is proud to have you as the Scandinavian city has the best culinary destinations. The city is also home to top universities and stands as the best place to get a job as an expat.

Stockholm is one of the best cities for expats who are nature enthusiasts, from its stunning archipelago to beautiful wildlife creatures. The downside to Stockholm is its expensive utilities; let’s briefly outline the cost of living in Stockholm.

Gothenburg

Population: 579, 281

Temperature:  13-21° C summer, -3-1° C winter

Located on the Western coast of Sweden, Gothenburg thrives as the second-best city for expats in Sweden. If you are searching for a city with a seaside view and vibrant atmosphere with a minimal crime rate, Gothenburg effortlessly provides you with that. Sitting on the Baltic seashore, the city prides itself on being home to fishing activities.

Although it is not as populated as Stockholm, Gothenburg is known for its cheerful locals who are highly welcoming of expats. The city is an international hub for diverse cultures and shopping malls. The Scandinavian sea city has the best seafood restaurants, including other food types for vegans or meat-eaters.

Sweden has the best lobster globally, commonly known as “The black gold lobster,” found in Gothenburg waters. The city is also one of the best places to observe the fika culture after a stressful day at work, as it’s crammed with cozy cafes like the Café Husaren.

Attraction sites in this city include; The Liseberg amusement park, archipelagos, Slottskogen festival park, and cobbled old streets. Gothenburg thrives in trade and manufacturing industries with job opportunities; however, the downside to this city is the extreme rain and cold during winters.

Cost of Living in Gothenburg

Malmo

Population: 344, 166

Temperature: 14-22° C summer, -1-3° C winter

Aside from being the name of Sweden’s top football club, Malmo is the third-largest city in the Scandinavian country. A coastal city situated on the southern side of Sweden, Malmo is a theatrical hub for operas, musicals, and ballet.

A city of diversity and a mix of old and new makes Malmo a younger and hip version of Stockholm. Exploring the cobbled streets of Malmo gives you an insight into the ancient Gamla Staden, a historic island in the city.

The city prides itself on having one of the top architectural buildings in Sweden, featuring “The turning torso,” the tallest Scandinavian building. Malmo is also a cultural home to arts, designs, and history, such as the famous Malhomus castle, the oldest in Scandinavia.

Lying in between the Oresund and Copenhagen region, Malmo is a city of IT and tech companies with an abundance of job supply in these fields, plus an attraction site for students to the city’s university. The downside to Malmo is the low accommodation supply.

Cost of Living in Malmo

Orebro

Population: 155, 189

Temperature: 20° C summer, -1.0° C winter

Located in the south-central tip of Sweden, between Gothenburg and Stockholm, Orebro is a gamma-sized city with stunning water and land sceneries for expats to swoon at. Popularly known in the 19^th century as a center for manufacturing shoes, Orebro has transformed into a fascinating city of history and culture.

The city houses the famous palace of King Gustav Vasa, which is currently a fascinating site for tourists.  Surrounded by nature sceneries ranging from green forests, parks, and waters, Orebro is the perfect destination to swim, boat, or hike.

The Swedish city brims with top-notch restaurants and quality food for expats to binge on. The cuisines range from vegan to meaty food, with creative restaurant buildings like the Skybar Svampen, shaped like a mushroom.

Orebro is home to the old Wadkoping town that contains 18^th-century cottages, which is currently a museum/exhibition site. The city also embodies one of Sweden’s top hospitals known as the Orebro University Hospital. As the city keeps flourishing, tons of job opportunities are unfolding.

Cost of Living in Orebro

Solna

Population: 82,429

Temperature: 23.2°C summer, 0.7°C winter

Solna is located at the northwest tip of Stockholm, a historic settlement and tomb site of notable people dating from the Vikings era. Although minimally populated, the Swedish city is fast growing to becoming one of the best cities in Sweden.

The city revels in being a hub to the Filmstaden studio where popular movies of Ingmar Berman were shot, royal palaces, and ancient monuments. Solna is a hotspot for people to view concerts and visit the Hagaparken royal cemetery.

Exploring solna requires keeping your wallet handy as the city has one of the biggest malls in Scandinavia. The 1958 final FIFA men’s world cup, including the 1995 women’s world cup, was played at the Solna football stadium before being demolished in 2013.

The small city has garnered tons of businesses, making it a major job site after Stockholm. The regal cafes and restaurants in Solna are going to have you obsessed with Swedish cuisine.

Cost of Living in Solna

Umea

Population: 112, 728

Temperature: 21°C summer, -1-2° winter

Umea is a young and vibrant city between the Baltic sea and forest, where the inhabitants are cocooned, almost cut off from the rest of the world. Nonetheless, the city is rapidly climbing up the list of best cities for expats in Sweden due to its relentless modern growth.

Basking in its Swedish heritage of contemporary buildings like the Bildmuseet art museum and the Utopia shopping mall, the city dominates other cities for its abundance of artful museums. The city is culturally diverse and dominated by film festivals, art galleries, operas, and other cultural events.

The Swedish city is the ideal setting to hike and bike through exploring its beautiful islands. Umea also prides itself on having one of the best cheese in Scandinavia, the “Vasterbotten cheese.”

Being a hub to foreigners, Umea is an open city where you don’t need to speak or act Swedish to fit in as the locals are friendly and fluent in English. The Umea swedes host events for foreigners to make them feel at home, plus the city provides an excellent working environment for expat employees.

Cost of Living in Umea

Uppsala

Population: 190, 688

Temperature: 17.6 °C summer, -3-1°C winter

Home to the oldest Scandinavian university, Uppsala city is crammed with expats, particularly international students, making it one of the best expatriate cities in Sweden. Basking in its rich culture and history, Uppsala is a breath of fresh air if you are searching for new opportunities.

A city brimming with historical monuments like the Cathedral, which holds the tomb of King Gustav Vasa, the oldest and preserved silver Bible, and other art/museum buildings. Living in Uppsala without exploring the charming garden of prominent botanist, Linnaeus is an incomplete expatriation.

Uppsala dabbles in various cuisines; thus, you can find your favorite food in this city. There are Italian, French and other country cuisines in the city’s restaurants.

Known as the university town, Uppsala provides a serene environment and facilities for its students to get more opportunities in their careers. The downside to living in Uppsala as an expat is the difficulty in finding accommodation.

Cost of Living in Uppsala

Lund

Population: 107, 351

Temperature: 17.9° C summer, 0.4° C winter

Known as Malmo’s twin city, Lund is a mini-sized city for expats in Sweden and a magnet for international students due to its vibrant university life. Aside from the historical sites, the students are the heart of the city, as Lund is incomplete without the youthful energy of expatriate students.

Lund is also dominated by cozy parks and museums such as the Kulturen and the Historiska Museet. Its main attraction site is the Cathedral which gives off the vibe of the buildings in Game of thrones.

The city has one of the best cafés to observe the “Fika” culture, in addition to restaurants that offer all kinds of cuisines. If you are searching for a cozy town to have a romantic getaway, Lund offers you the best sceneries.

Most international students in Sweden prefer schooling in Lund as it offers an environment to learn and explore simultaneously. A city drive from Copenhagen, this city is ideal if you want to get away from the hassles of life.

Cost of Living in Lund

Halmstad

Population: 90, 241

Temperature: 18.1° C summer, 0.2° C winter

Halmstad is the city that beautifully tans your skin due to its amazing seaside and beach resort. The city is known as one of Sweden’s beautiful historic locations and regal arts. Situated in between Gothenburg and Malmo, Halmstad is a powerhouse for green nature.

The popular Scandinavian beach, “Tylosand,” is a hotspot for water activities such as kayaking, swimming, or surfing. The green forests and fascinating landscapes are enough to make your jaw drop in awe. The Eketanga reserve will have you putting on your shoes every evening for a hike.

Halmstad is a refreshing city with a mission to make every foreigner full of life, with its wellness and spa centers that soothe your mind from the stress of life. Popularly known as the city of microbreweries, Halmstad dabbles in the tastiest ales and malts.

Home to golf sports, the city has hotels designed with golf facilities for guests who love to play. Halmstad is also a university and industrial city for expat students and job seekers.

Cost of Living in Halmstad

Sundsvall

Population: 58, 807

Temperature: 16.7° C summer, -6.6° C winter

A home base for expats, Sundsvall is one of the best cities in Sweden with variation in the population.  A mishmash of the countryside and city, Sundsvall has tons of cultures from both locals foreigners.

If you are a music enthusiast, Sundsvall city tops other cities for everything pop; located at the east-central tip of Sweden, the city is a vacay favorite. Primarily destroyed in the 1800s, the Swedish city has evolved bigger and better.

The city is bordered by the Baltic sea and has impressive attraction sites like the  Vangavan Park and the Sofia Gisberg fountain. The Alno island is also a tourist favorite, crammed with beaches.

The crime rate in Sundsvall is low, thus making it a safe place to drop your luggage and live life. The city offers the best cuisines ranging from Asian to Indian and is dominated by students and job opportunities in various fields.

Cost of Living in Sundsvall

Vasteras

Population:  134,684

Temperature: 18.4°C summer, -2.8° C winter

Vasteras is that city that gives you a water view directly in front of your apartment, known for its sunset views; Vasteras should be on your list of cities to visit in Sweden. Located at the northern shore of Malar lake, Vasteras is a party pub for those who want to whip their hair and let the music take control.

Dating back to the Vikings’ time, the city is a safe hub to live in, with exciting places to visit, such as the Djakneberget park, where words of wisdom are engraved in stone. Looking for a reason to cling to Vasteras? Your closet is a motive enough as the city is home to the famous H&M clothing store.

You can toast to being a swede by visiting the cozy cafes in the city and a range of international diners to feast from. The Swedish city also brings out your inner fascination with planes with its mesmerizing Aviation Museum, a building for plane exhibits.

Vasteras holds the Malar University, which is dominated by international students, thus making the city a favorite for expats. The Swedish city has everything you’d need ranging from jobs to relaxation areas; all you need to do is step down from the airplane.

Cost of Living in Vasteras

Helsinborg

Population: 113, 816

Temperature: 22° C summer, 3.3° C winter

If you are searching for a city that makes you aww and swoons at them, its coziness, Helsinborg, makes you fall in love faster than anyone would. A multicultural city situated in southern Sweden, the city of Helsingborg is what you’d call cute and charming.

The spring is the best time to visit Helsingborg as the cherry blossoms bloom delightfully, giving the city a fairy tale vibe. Rather than wearing its heart on the sleeves, Helsinborg litters your path with heart-shaped balloons.

Smothered with wall arts that are going to leave you mesmerized, Helsingborg is a city you’d want to get lost in without an escape. The lovely cafes with a relaxing vibe for the perfect “Fika break” and cute little shops that draws your wallet in.

If you find yourself smiling at the goodies Helsinborg’s got to offer, wait till you take a walk down to the castle Sofiero, a Disney castle in 4k resolution. A cozy city on a human scale, Helsinborg is a safe place for school or work under a soothing atmosphere.

Cost of Living in Helsinborg

Conclusion

Aside from being one of the best countries in the world, Sweden cities offer the best welcoming and stunning environment for expats to thrive. Our guide to the best cities for expats in Sweden will have you exploring all without sticking to one.

Before introducing this article, if you are interested in our core services which are expat financial, insurance, and mortgages, you can contact me here. 

The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.

Introduction

Are you trying to tick off “Sweden” off your travel bucket list? Perhaps moving to Sweden has to do with seeing the royal palaces for yourself? If only you could step down the plane with your luggage of Nordic attires and a mind full of the do’s and don’t of the Swedes.

But right now, here you are, with zero guides on how to move to Sweden as an expat, however, worry less, your goal of being a Swedish expat lies in the detailed information this article is going to provide.

Aside from its beautiful traditional attires as popularly seen in movies depicting an 80s vibe, Sweden is a hub for foreigners to explore its aesthetic nature, stunning architectural designs, and unique cultural arts.

However, with the coronavirus pandemic, there are certain restrictions placed in some Sweden locations, thus as an expat, your covid-19 certificate should be among your travel essentials to gain you access into the country.

So, are you ready to explore the country of royal palaces and monuments? This article has got you covered with the right guide to make your move to Sweden a smooth flight. Let’s get you Swedish.

What to Know Before Moving To Sweden

Moving to a foreign country goes beyond knowing the best diners or fun places to visit. There is necessary information needed to equip yourself for easy relocation. Hence, let’s dive into the mini details to know before moving to Sweden.

• Sweden’s capital city is Stockholm
• The currency is Swedish Krona
• The official language is Swedish
• The total population is 10.23 million
• Expat population includes 900, 000
• The biggest cities in Sweden are Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmo
• Dialing code is +46

Since we’ve established the mini information about Sweden, let’s dive into the major details you need to know before moving to Sweden as an expat.

1.    Get your Swedish Visa

Applying for a Schengen Visa for Sweden depends on your reason behind the relocation. The process behind acquiring a visa for schooling or work differs. However, the general guide to applying for a Sweden Visa as an expat includes;

• You will need a travel and medical insurance
• Proof of your accommodation.
• Purpose of your move to Sweden.
• Proof of your financial stability.

However, since Sweden falls under the EU countries, these rules exempt EU Nationals.  Thus, if you don’t fall under the EU Nationals, you’d need to apply for your Visa via the Sweden Consulate in your country.

2.    Know your Legal Rights as an Emigrant

 Human rights, in general, is a fundamental policy in Sweden, renowned for establishing liberal rights like gender equality and lengthy maternal or parental breaks for their employees. Nonetheless,  it is still necessary to research further on the European or Sweden rights of emigrants.

3.    Plan your Financial Budget

Although moving to Sweden is exciting, don’t let your excitement cloud your financial judgement. Your financial stability is amongst the key elements that gets you a Sweden Visa; thus, plan your financial budget around Sweden’s cost of living, which we will dive into later in this article.

4.    Learning the Swedish Language

Although the official language of Sweden is Swedish, you can learn the basic phrases if you plan on working there as it helps you relate better with your colleagues. Nonetheless, you don’t have to spend sleepless nights trying to learn Swedish as eighty percent of swedes are well versed in English.

Why Sweden is the Top Destination for Expat?

Does Sweden top your list of countries for a fresh start? Well, you’ve booked the right flight. The Scandinavian nation ranks amongst the top ten happiest countries and has the 16^th  highest life expectancy from birth globally.

So, what makes Sweden one of the top countries for a happy expat life? Let’s find out.

1.    The Fika Culture

Fika is a Swedish culture that translates to a “cake and coffee break”; however, the Fika culture goes beyond just stocking up on caffeine; it is also a “date” like a routine that entails finding time for friends to strengthen bonds and detox from the stress of life.

What’s spells out happiness as a Swedish expat? A coffee and cake time!

2.    The Cuisines

As an expat, training your taste buds to get used to cuisine can be a hassle; however, with the Swedish delicacies, your taste buds will require no getting used to. Sweden is renowned for its tasty pastries such as the Kanelbular and the Lussekatter.

3.       Rapid Internet Connection

In a world of technological innovations, the internet connection is a travel necessity. Sweden hits the internet speed chart in the world as the fifth country with the fastest internet connection. Hence, you can be rest assured of a steady internet connection to help you navigate through the maps or other purposes.

4.    Aesthetic Nature and stunning Destinations

The aesthetic scenery in Sweden makes it a paradise for tourists. It is a hub for nature sights such as the Stockholm archipelago, northern lights, midnight sun, the vibrant city life of middle Sweden, stunning landscapes, and coastlines in southern Sweden.

Other notable destinations include;

• The Liseberg theme park
• The Vasa museum
• The Skansen traditional museums
• The Drottningholm palace
• The Lapland ice hotel

5.    The Music

From the ABBA pop group Ace of base to Zara Larsson electrifying vocals, Sweden is among the top countries with active pop music talent. Being the third-largest pop music exporter in the world, it is safe to say your playlist is going to be on repeat.

6.    The Shopping Luxury

There’s no denying that shopping incites a sense of calm within the body, especially if it falls within your budget. Aside from being the home of IKEA’S founder, Sweden is known for its luxurious shopping malls with reasonable prices. Thus, you can explore stores like the Mall of Scandinavia without moving past your budget.

Understanding the Swedes

It is vital to understand the personality of the swedes to avoid awkward communications once you move to Sweden. We will list a few behavioral tips to help you understand the Swedish people; however, keep in mind that not all behavior correlates with every Swede, as people relate differently.

1.    The Swedes Are Calm and Humble People

Known for their humble and egalitarian nature, the Swedes rarely exhibit negative emotions such as anger or aggressiveness, thus as an expat, if you’re naturally kind and compassionate, you’ve won the hearts of a million swedes.

2.    The Swedes Are Softly Spoken

In addition to being calm, the swedes are known to speak calmly and respectfully. Rather than airing their opinions, the swedes prefer listening to others talk. So, if you are looking for someone to listen and comprehend what you say, the swedes have the perfect ears.

3.       They Detest Arrogance

Lack of gratitude for a gift from a Swede or excessive talking about your achievements gives off a red light of arrogance to them. Thus, avoid being flashy or boastful as a Swedish expat.

4.    They Work in Moderation

Aside from the Fika culture, the Swedes don’t fall under the “work hard” category. They believe in working with moderation and finding time in between to rest for more productivity. Due to this, the Swedish children are raised with the notion that they are all equal, thus avoiding competitions within them.

Do’s And Don’t Of The Swedish Culture

Moving to Sweden requires understanding the culture as you wouldn’t want to bring your cultural etiquettes to people who are not familiar with it. We are going to list few tips to help you understand the do’s and don’t of the Swedish culture.

1.    Maintain Personal Space

The Swedes are naturally egalitarian, which makes them overprotective of their personal space, thus avoid unnecessary proximity that invades the space of a Swede.

2.    Be Professional

In instances whereby you moved to Sweden for work purposes, it is necessary to maintain a firm handshake with eye contact. Avoid addressing your hosts by their first names as seen in the U.S, instead address them professionally by their titles and surnames.

3.    Stay Calm in Every Situation

As stated earlier, the swedes are softly spoken, thus amid negotiations, always stay calm and collected, which diffuses the tense atmosphere, thus inciting respect for you from the swedes.

4.    Be Authentic

The Swedish culture naturally gives off authenticity and expects the same from others. You don’t have to channel an inner swede within you forcefully; always be authentic and speak straightforwardly.

5. Be Punctual

Tardiness is an attitude that isn’t naturally appreciated; however, the Swedish culture emphasizes punctuality regardless if it’s a business meeting, school day, or casual hangouts.

6.    Dress Simple

Due to the egalitarian culture of Sweden, avoid flashy outfits or jewelry as this gives off a negative vibe of arrogance and shows off to the swedes. You can always put on your Gucci’s and Michael Kors but in a less flashy manner.

7.    Always Bring Gifts During an Invite

The Swedish culture takes gifting as an important etiquette, as the swedes are naturally givers. Hence, when invited to the home of a Swede, always take gifts like flowers or chocolates if your host has little kids who might be a family member as well.

8.    Maintain Good Guest Etiquettes

The Sweden culture also applies to being invited to their homes; these guest culture etiquettes includes;

• You don’t eat until your host says “varsagod,” which translates to “go ahead, or here you are”
• Keep your hands on the table in view while eating
• Always keep the knife in your right hand and the fork in the left
• Don’t leave leftovers on your plate as the swedes consider uneaten food to be a rude gesture
• Show gratitude for the food and invitation before leaving

National Public Holidays in Sweden

Planning your big move to Sweden should also incorporate a list of Swedish holidays and traditions. If there’s one thing Sweden is known for, it’s the emphasis on celebrations and relaxations, and we’ve got you covered on these holidays.

Kraftskiva Crayfish Party

Kraftskiva was created as a result of crayfish popularly eaten in the 1500s. The crayfish party, usually celebrated in the half of August, entails wearing funny bibs and paper hats while sucking on crayfish with schnapps and beer on the side.

Easter

As the Easter date isn’t fixed, the Swedish Easter holiday is celebrated on a Monday in April. This holiday has children dressing up as Easter witches, obtaining sweets and Easter eggs in a door-to-door visit.

Walpurgis Even

Walpurgis Eve is celebrated on the 30^th of April and entails large bonfires lit in the evening accompanied by songs to mark the end of winter and welcome the arrival of spring.

Midsummer Celebration

The Sweden midsummer celebration is celebrated on a Friday of the last week of June. This celebration entails raising wreaths on a pole, picking flowers, and the women wearing adorned midsummer flower crowns.

Sweden’s National Day

Celebrated on the 6^th of June to commemorate the election of Gustav Vasa as king, the Swedes wear blue and yellow to dominate the day and celebrate New Swedish citizens as well.

Other National holidays include; St Lucia day, Nobel day, Studenten, Christmas, and New year’s Eve.

Cost of Basic Living Necessities in Sweden

As stated earlier, before moving to Sweden as an expat, you’d need to acquire a Schengen Visa that requires your purpose of moving, proof of your accommodation, financial subsistence, and a residence permit if you plan to stay more than 90days.

Thus, we’ve put together the cost of living necessities in Sweden like food, apartment, and transport to help plan your financial stability before moving.

Accommodation

Sweden cities like Stockholm and Gothenburg are known to have expensive living utilities, especially accommodation. However, we’ve put together the prices of housing in Sweden.

Food

Buying your groceries in bulk and being your own chef will help you save money as a Swedish expat. As cities like Stockholm and Gothenburg are notably expensive, you can opt for supermarkets out of town as they are cheaper.

Transport

Transportation in Sweden is of good value with extensive modes of movement at reasonable prices.

The cost of other basic utilities include;

Education in Sweden

Being the biggest city and capital of Sweden, Stockholm holds more schools than any other city. As an expat, if you’re moving to Sweden for schooling purposes or a family member of yours, it is best to know that the Sweden school system made education compulsory for children aged 7-19.

The education system consists of public, private, and international schools; the public school is free for all students and strictly follows the Swedish syllabus. Most expat kids opt for private or international schools as they are flexible with their syllabus and teach English; however, the downside is that they are expensive.

European Union students are exempted from paying tuition; however, if you are a non-EU student, you’d need to pay tuition or apply for scholarships in either college of your choice.  Stockholm University is known to have great scholarship offers for students.

Jobs in Sweden

Moving to Sweden as an expat will require getting a job to keep up with the expensive cost of living in the country. Although the labor market is competitive in Sweden as most of the Swedes speak English, the work environment in Sweden is pleasant and less stressful.

Employees are allocated 40 hours of a working week, with a 25 days leave, exempting public holidays. Due to the swedes egalitarian nature, the employers are less strict and always carry their employees along on every decision.

However, getting a job in Sweden as a non-EU expat can be complicated as you’d require a work permit before obtaining a visa, and the only way to get a work permit is by getting a job.

Thus, before making your big move down to the country of coffee breaks, do extensive research on job vacancies and perfect your CV to earn you a spot in either of the Swedish workplaces.

Jobs niches available in Sweden include; healthcare, education, science, construction, engineering, and ICT fields. You can also check the Swedish public employment service or the Arbetsformedlingen for job vacancies.

Healthcare System in Sweden

Being familiar with the Swedish health care system is crucial before moving to Sweden. As other life utilities differ for EU and Non-EU expats, the similar way the health care system also differs.

The country’s healthcare system covers every medical care, including home-based treatments. This is less complicated for EU/EFTA nationals as they only require their European health card, whereas Non-EU expats need to apply for private healthcare insurance.

Once you’ve settled and gotten a job in Sweden, you can register with the Swedish tax agency to save you money on healthcare bills. Although most healthcare services are accessible in Sweden, the primary medical services cost 100-220 SEK.

However, healthcare services in Sweden depend on your county or region of residence. For instance, some counties offer free medical services to children and teenagers.

You can visit your county’s website for healthcare information and hospitals that are within proximity.

• 112 is the number for emergencies
• 1177 is the number for medical advice

Banking in Sweden

Managing your finances is probably one of your top priorities as an expat moving to Sweden. The majority of the cash transactions in Sweden require a credit card; hence, opening a bank account should be on the to-do list once you touchdown Sweden.

Opening a bank account in Sweden includes formalities such as; visiting the tax agency to apply for a personal number which is your identity number, obtaining your Swedish ID card, a work permit, or a letter that confirms your employment in a company and your address.

Once you’ve acquired the above documents, you can head to any Bank of your choice to open an account. You can research online for local banks like Nordea bank, Swedbank, etc.

Keep in mind that the banking hours in Sweden are limited; hence you’d want to opt for a bank that’s closer to your residence or workplace.

Crime Rate in Sweden

Sweden is a safe place to take a soothing stroll at night in your neighborhood. Aside from petty theft and pickpocketing, primarily reported in high traffic areas, Sweden is a low crime threat location.

Weather in Sweden

Picking out outfits for your big move to Sweden should also include seasonal weather outfits. Although the weather in Sweden differs in each region, the winter season lasts from November to February while the summer season lasts from June to August.

The summer season is the best time to move as an expat, as the temperature settles around 20-30 degrees; thus, the best season to tour the beaches and archipelagos.

Sweden also has heavy rainfall seasons which last from July to August, most times this rainfall clashes with the summer season hence, don’t forget to include your rain apparels in your luggage.

Conclusion

Although the cost of living in Sweden is expensive, but that shouldn’t make you forfeit your Swedish dream. The above guide to being a Swedish expat will help you live comfortably and take advantage of the opportunities in Sweden. Nonetheless, follow this platform for more updates regarding Sweden travel and more.