Moving to Sweden

What do I need to know before moving to Sweden?

When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to Sweden, they said:

"Research! That is the key to moving. Find your clan and glean as much information as possible from people who have crossed the pond. Most of the websites for newcomers have links and resource. Another important thing is talking to people already there," said another expat in Stockholm.

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How do I find a place to live in Sweden?

We asked expats how they chose their neighborhood and found a place to live. They answered:

"My husband was very particular on where we would live. Believe it or not, there are slumps in Sweden and Swedes are so careful about where and how they live that "addresses" are important statements of their "class". We got a tip through some friends," commented one expat who made the move to Stockholm.

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What is a typical expat home or apartment like in Sweden?

"We live in a second hand rental apartment which came unfurnished, with a fridge, oven and an electric stove. The rental includes heating and a car park bay. The apartment is about 3mins to the train stop, 2 mins to the Lake Malaren, 8-10mins on train to Stockholm city and close the the forest. Most expats live in apartments. If they are career expats, they might be in paid for villas with 3-5 rooms, fully furnished," mentioned another expat when asked about moving to Stockholm.

What is the average cost of housing in Sweden?

If you are thinking about moving to Sweden, cost of living in probably a key consideration. Expats commented about the cost of housing:

"Higher than where I'm from in the US. We paid like 7000 sek for our flat and it was TINY," remarked another expat who made the move to Goteborg.

"I found the housing in Sweden to be outrageously expensive. For what we are paying for a 59sq unfurnished apartment with one bedroom, we could have had a fully furnished apartment or house with at least 1,200sq! Plus a garden and parking! We pay about 6,000sek here while an apartment in Malaysia (in a good area) would cost between RM2000 to RM3,500," explained one expat living in Stockholm, Sweden.

International Health Insurance in Sweden

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What should I pack when moving to Sweden?

We asked people living in Sweden to list three things they wish they had brought and three they wish they had left behind. They responded:

"I wish I had brought some American measuring cups/tablespoons. It was too much trouble to have to convert all my American recipes to metric. Wish I had also brought cold/flu medicines, because you can't find the strength you're used to in the US, except in prescription form. I wish I had left all my dress clothes, because I wasn't working in an office setting, and so they were very impractical to have and not used. Also wish I had left most of my shoes (especially the ones with heels), because those are impractical as well. Goteborg was very rainy and snowy, so some of my shoes were just ruined," added another expat who made the move to Goteborg.

"I wish I had brought: My comfortable king size bed - One year's supply of large sized shoes - Contact lenses and solutions I wish I had left behind: My lifetime supply of books T-shirts - you can only wear it for 3 months in a year! My mobile - no one calls," explained one expat living in Stockholm, Sweden.

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What cultural faux pas should I try to avoid making in Sweden?

We asked people in Sweden if they could share any humorous cultural blunders they commited. For new expats, keep in mind that these incidents are an inevitable part of expat life. Learning to laugh about them is the key!:

"Lots and lots everyday. From behaving the wrong way to inviting people at the wrong time of the day (and being surprised when they were not happy about being woken on a Saturday morning) to being too friendly with my wife's friends," commented one expat who made the move to Lund.

"Yes, when I first drove to my boy friends home from the airport, I turned onto a huge bike path. I had no idea it wasn't part of the road. There wasn't a sign or anything painted identifying that area was for bikes only. eeek," remarked another expat in Karlstad, Sweden.