# I'm thinking about moving to Sweden, advice solicited **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 9, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123 "2009-02-09T20:09:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/21 "2009-02-10T13:32:34Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Yes I did, staying with **ViktorWolf** and his family (in case it’s not obvious we know each other outside of the Dope 🙂 ) near Goteborg. As I said I’ve heard lots of good things about Malmo so will check it out, but will similarly need to do Stockholm as well. > > Hey - maybe we can both move to Goteborg and be room mates, that’d be cool no? 😃 That would really save on rent, so sure. But yeah, you should visit both Stockholm and Malmö. But don’t judge Malmö solely for Malmö, since it’s just a 30 min train-ride to central Copenhagen, with all that it has to offer. ---
**Author:** ![Sri\_Theo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Sri\_Theo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sri_Theo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/22 "2009-02-10T18:06:36Z")
Copenhagen Rocks, Stockholm Sucks\* Do you drink? Twice the price for everything in Sweden and Copenhagen has way more bars, and is a few degrees warmer so you can actually ride your bike home, Stockholm is **cold** whearas Copenhagen is just cold. Plus Danish beer is far superior \*Ok Gamla Stan is pretty cool. And so are the ferrys. And the city centre. And Skanda… ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/23 "2009-02-10T18:12:33Z")
> [@seodoa](#): > > My dear friend Esa tells me that all Swedish men are invariably and incurably homosexual\*, which is good news for you. I’m sure this would have been news to my Uncle Eric and his wife, my Aunt Eldine. And all my cousins who were their children. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/24 "2009-02-10T18:47:14Z")
> [@Sri\_Theo](#): > > Do you drink? No I don’t, so the price and level of difficulty of purchasing alcohol doesn’t bother me in the least. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/25 "2009-02-15T10:47:38Z")
Any more for any more, or have I tapped out the Swedish doper pool of advice? ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/26 "2009-02-15T12:14:47Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Any more for any more, or have I tapped out the Swedish doper pool of advice? Well, nothing really pops into my head, but ask as much as you like. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/27 "2009-02-15T13:09:45Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > Well, nothing really pops into my head, but ask as much as you like. You have a PM. ---
**Author:** ![Morning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Morning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morning)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/28 "2009-02-17T03:33:06Z")
If you move to Sweden, who will be my culinary best friend and amazing tour guide the next time I’m in London? ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/29 "2009-02-17T08:31:57Z")
> [@Morning](#): > > If you move to Sweden, who will be my culinary best friend and amazing tour guide the next time I’m in London? 🙂 It’s a five year plan, I’m not going to jumping ship that soon. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/30 "2009-02-17T08:46:54Z")
Although I don’t know how the whole EU thing changes matters, living in a country as an expatriate is usually much different than living there as a citizen. Since I have never lived in a developed nation as an expat, my personal experiences are probably largely irrelevant. But whenever we’ve thought about moving to another country, I’ve sought advice not just about the country itself, but about _living there as a foreigner._ I googled “expatriate Sweden” and got these websites - they may or may not be crappy, but regardless, you should talk to others, preferably British, who live in Sweden. (The alloexpat site is good for at least some countries, if memory serves.) > **[Blog Sweden, expat Sweden](https://www.expat.com/en/directory/europe/sweden/)** > > Blog written by expatriates in Sweden, living in Sweden, working in Sweden [http://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-sweden](http://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-sweden) > **[Living in Sweden: Resources for Expatriates](https://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/living/living_abroad/living_in_sweden.shtml)** > > Resources and articles for expatriates living in Sweden or moving to Sweden. > **[DUNICASH - Daftar Resmi Link Judi Bola Online SBOBET Terpercaya](https://www.alloexpat.com/)** > > DuniaCash adalah daftar resmi link judi bola online SBOBET terpercaya di Indonesia. Melayani login SBOBET88 online 24jam dapatkan bonus besar Dunia Cash sekarang. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/31 "2009-02-17T11:33:30Z")
I’m a Brit that moved to Stockholm in 1999. I still live there. Feel free to direct any questions my way. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/32 "2009-02-17T11:39:03Z")
> [@WormTheRed](#): > > You have been to Stockholm, right? > > First thing I think of when I think of Stockholm is that it’s really hard to find decent rental apartments in decent areas. Most of my buddies who live there have “traded” up from larger places in the suburbs to smaller ones closer to d/t. Or have just paid quite the bit of money for someone to hand over their contract (which is illegal, but everyone looks between the fingers on it). In Sweden the concept of a “council house” is far more socially acceptable and there are far more of them. As far as apartments go there are basically three variants: Bostadsrätt where you bought the place. It isn’t quite the same as in the UK as you buy into a housing association rather than the bricks and mortar. Be sure to check the finances of the association before you buy. Hyresrätt which is a council house. In Stockholm the wait times can be immense. It is quite common for parents to put their kids on the lists for the better areas at birth. These can be bought “black”, ie. under the table, but it can be risky. Andrahand is second hand renting. The real owner has either a bostadsrätt or a hyresrätt. Many housing associations don’t allow second hand renting so it can be a bit messy and hence hard to find places. www.bostaddirekt.se is the main andrahand website that people use. They have a website in English. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/33 "2009-02-17T11:41:48Z")
> [@WormTheRed](#): > > An other thing to check into would be TAXES! I’m not sure how high the taxes are in the UK but they’re probably quite the bit higher in Sweden. VAT is about 20% and the wage-tax 30-50%. Basic rate income tax is around 30%. If you earn over a certain amount (I can’t remember exactly but I have a feeling it is around the equivalent of 30k GBP pa) then an additional 20% is put on the excess. VAT in general is 25%. There are lower rates for things like food (12%) and books (6%). In salaried jobs the wage is often quoted as a monthly amount rather than yearly. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/34 "2009-02-17T11:44:04Z")
Fantastic **amanset** - I will PM you later with some more detailed questions, one Brit to another. I’d definitely be interested in your experiences of moving there and any specific barriers you encountered. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/35 "2009-02-17T11:47:53Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > From what I’ve read, Swedish isn’t too difficult for English speakers. It doesn’t have a horrendous plethora of inflectional endings like German does, though I having learned German am always quick to point out that the complexities of grammar amount to nothing more than a bit of additional memorization, and are certainly not _Raketenwissenschaft_. It may not be German but it can be complex. IIRC there are seven different versions of the plural, depending on the type on noun, and due to the definite article being placed on the end of the word there are multitudes of different endings. A car: en bil The car: bilen Two cars: två bilar The two cars: två bilarna Add to that the two different (in)definite articles with no rules as to whether a noun is one or the other and (IIRC) five different classes of verb that all conjugate in different ways it can get somewhat confusing for someone used to the relative simplicity of English grammar. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/36 "2009-02-17T11:52:22Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Fantastic **amanset** - I will PM you later with some more detailed questions, one Brit to another. I’d definitely be interested in your experiences of moving there and any specific barriers you encountered. Sure. I’ll look forward to receiving your PM. I’m a big fan of anything that gets me away from working 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/37 "2009-02-17T12:05:55Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Sure. I’ll look forward to receiving your PM. I’m a big fan of anything that gets me away from working 😉 You don’t have PMs activated - I don’t have the option to send you one currently. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/38 "2009-02-17T13:24:58Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > You don’t have PMs activated - I don’t have the option to send you one currently. Ah. I changed my email address (it was outdated and wanted to be sure I’d get notifications) but hadn’t verified it. I’ve done so now and so it should work. Sorry about that. ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/39 "2009-02-17T14:26:41Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Any more for any more, or have I tapped out the Swedish doper pool of advice? Same as the others said. Bring on the questions and we’ll pile out the answers… or just send a PM 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sofis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Sofis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofis)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123/40 "2009-02-17T16:21:13Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Add to that the two different (in)definite articles with no rules as to whether a noun is one or the other Well, there aren’t quite no rules, the rules just aren’t very good :), in that they don’t cover all words or are entirely without exceptions. * * * As a general comment on the difficulty of Swedish, it is of course quite difficult to learn any language to the point where you make no technical/grammatical mistakes, and extremely difficult to learn all the nuances of word usage and phrasing to achieve native level proficiency, but the most important part in participating in Swedish society is in understanding the language when spoken or written which is not nearly so difficult. Especially with Swedish and English being closely related, with a lot of the basic vocabulary being recognisable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-about-moving-to-sweden-advice-solicited/485123.md?page=3)