(edit title) Salary Vs Cost of living How does anyone make enough? Options

[Nicola_94]

Hello all,

We're planning to move to Sweden quite soon from Paris.

I've been looking on lonestatistik to get some idea of salaries in Stockholm and I'm quite surprised by how low they are, especially as taxes are so high, so I was wondering whether the info on this site is accurate in your experience?

I'm also wondering about the cost of living...I know food and rent costs are high, though perhaps naively I didn't think they could be higher than Paris...but when I look on websites for a flat around Stockholm it seems to be starting at 10000 SEK a month for a 2 bedroom appartment - is that right? Because when I look at the job I do (translator) it seems that if I'm lucky I can get 250,000 sek in salary per year, of which about 1/3 will be taken in tax, and I'll need to pay 120,000 in rent...what does that leave to live on?

At present myself, my husband (who studies and works part time) and my son age 2 survive on a total of about 2,500 euros a month after tax...but I'm starting to think I would need much more than that in Sweden??

[Furu]

Hello all,We're planning to move to Sweden quite soon from Paris.I've been looking on lonestatistik to get some idea of salaries in Stockholm and I'm quite surpris ... (show full quote)

Hello all,

We're planning to move to Sweden quite soon from Paris.

I've been looking on lonestatistik to get some idea of salaries in Stockholm and I'm quite surprised by how low they are, especially as taxes are so high, so I was wondering whether the info on this site is accurate in your experience?

I'm also wondering about the cost of living...I know food and rent costs are high, though perhaps naively I didn't think they could be higher than Paris...but when I look on websites for a flat around Stockholm it seems to be starting at 10000 SEK a month for a 2 bedroom appartment - is that right? Because when I look at the job I do (translator) it seems that if I'm lucky I can get 250,000 sek in salary per year, of which about 1/3 will be taken in tax, and I'll need to pay 120,000 in rent...what does that leave to live on?

At present myself, my husband (who studies and works part time) and my son age 2 survive on a total of about 2,500 euros a month after tax...but I'm starting to think I would need much more than that in Sweden?? ... (hide full quote)

This will leave you with 55,000kr per year (around 4500kr per month).

Other approximate expenses per month -

Internet + Home phone - 250kr
Electricity - 500kr
Transportation - 0 to 1000kr
Car insurance + road tax - depends on make and model
Home content insurance - 100kr
Day care - 0 to 1200kr (based on income)
Food - depends on what you shop and where you shop

[Kibiri]

10000 sek rent is too high, especially in your budget. You may find something around 7000 sek. But actually finding any place is a challenge in Stockholm.

At that income level your tax would be less than 25%.

Finding a job in Sweden may take quite some time, much longer than you expect.

[teslar]

At that income level your tax would be less than 25%.

To put this into numbers, assuming a salary of 20 800 a month (which takes you roughly to 250k a year), you'd be left with about 16 300 after tax, or just below 196k a year.

[Nicola_94]

10000 sek rent is too high, especially in your budget. You may find something around 7000 sek. But actually finding any place is a challenge in Stockholm.At that income level ... (show full quote)

10000 sek rent is too high, especially in your budget. You may find something around 7000 sek. But actually finding any place is a challenge in Stockholm.

At that income level your tax would be less than 25%.

Finding a job in Sweden may take quite some time, much longer than you expect. ... (hide full quote)

Where should I look to find a place for less? Any websites you could recommend or areas?

Re job search, I can largely work freelance while I'm searching for a job, so I'm not too worried about that, and I can speak fluent Swedish and have already worked in Sweden. Plus we have savings, so it's more a question of whether it's going to be financially viable on a day to day basis as I don't want to be dipping into our savings every month just to make ends meet.

[Shibumi]

I moved to Stockholm from Paris 4 years ago and at the time I estimated the cost of living to be about 20% higher in Stockholm than in Paris... based on rent, food and public transportation costs. You will also find that dining in restaurants is a lot more expensive in Stockholm, especially if you order wine. Also, in France, my employer covered half of my public transportation (carte orange) and subsidized my lunch expenses (tickets restaurants). My complementary insurance through my employer (mutuelle) also paid for dental check-ups and one pair of eyeglasses per year. None of these are covered by my Swedish employer. Other surprise expenses were the 900 Kr/yr out of pocket for doctor visits and the ??? Kr/yr out of pocket for prescription medicine... not sure the exact amount but over that amount, you no longer pay anything out of pocket until the next year. In France, these were all reimbursed 100% by a combination of the government medical system and the complementary insurance from my employer. Oh yes... there was also the TV tax (over 2000 Kr/yr, but you might not have to pay it if you're renting).

[DamnImmigrant]

Your tax rate is based on your income. Personally, I do not think the taxes are very high because IMHO we get excellent value for our tax money.

In the US, we are "nickel and dime-d" to death. Here in Sweden WYSIWYG. Like Furu said, I too pay about 250 for 10MB/s broadband and phone - NO OTHER MONTHLY CHARGES added onto the bill and I actually get the full Internet speed nearly 100% of the time. Cable TV is part of my association fee but otherwise seems reasonable.

Some employers here do cover dental and glasses - some only for the worker, some their family too.

Most interesting is the Swedes have one of the highest standards of living in the world. So this Salary vs Cost of Living works well here. Swedes have the highest number of golfers per capita in the world! They have the highest number of "vacation homes" and the 2nd highest number of boats per person. If not living in their summer homes for 4-5 weeks, they are traveling to other places. So it is not like Salary vs Cost of Living is so bad that everyone is on the verge of poverty.

If you live in the Center of Stockholm, you WILL pay a lot of money but if you live in the outskirts and commute by train, it will be cheaper. Some Stockholm workers actually moved to places like Enkoping or Västerås because the housing is so much cheaper there and then they either drive or take the train to Stockholm (45min to 55min travel time).

The real problem is FINDING A JOB!!!!

[gplusa]

I agree with the above. We discussed this during one of our Christmas break forest walks. We have a reduced income today compared to what we were earning overseas, we live in what the rest of the world says is an expensive country, and yet we have a higher standard of living and a greater disposable income than we've ever had. Can't quite figure out why it is that we're able to do more in Sweden for less. Not that I'm complaining, mind.

[Localer]

2500 EUR gives you 23,000 SEK a month
rent cost you between 7000 to 1000 sek depends on the location
for 2 person plus a kid, definitely NOT do able
you need more then that.

[nicedude]

Well,I think 10 000 SEK rent/month is quite expensive.
Check the rents on blocket.se
Click on Stockholm -> Alla kategorier -> Lägenheter -> Uthyres

Good luck!

[Furu]

Where should I look to find a place for less? Any websites you could recommend or areas?

You can try Uppsala.

[Taxlady]

As an economist I can verify that data source is correct. Sweden, next to Norway, has the highest priced food in Europe, very expensive utilities and services and one of the highest income taxes in the world. Salaries are lowest here and have been stagnant for years. Unlike many countries incentives in the workplace do not exist.

[flobalob]

Hello all,We're planning to move to Sweden quite soon from Paris.I've been looking on lonestatistik to get some idea of salaries in Stockholm and I'm quite surpris ... (show full quote)

Hello all,

We're planning to move to Sweden quite soon from Paris.

I've been looking on lonestatistik to get some idea of salaries in Stockholm and I'm quite surprised by how low they are, especially as taxes are so high, so I was wondering whether the info on this site is accurate in your experience?

I'm also wondering about the cost of living...I know food and rent costs are high, though perhaps naively I didn't think they could be higher than Paris...but when I look on websites for a flat around Stockholm it seems to be starting at 10000 SEK a month for a 2 bedroom appartment - is that right? Because when I look at the job I do (translator) it seems that if I'm lucky I can get 250,000 sek in salary per year, of which about 1/3 will be taken in tax, and I'll need to pay 120,000 in rent...what does that leave to live on?

At present myself, my husband (who studies and works part time) and my son age 2 survive on a total of about 2,500 euros a month after tax...but I'm starting to think I would need much more than that in Sweden?? ... (hide full quote)

Why get a job making money for other people when you can work for yourself ?

[gplusa]

Economist or not, you're so far off the mark.

[Nicola_94]

Why get a job making money for other people when you can work for yourself ?

Security!! Later on I want to freelance and live some place more rural in Sweden but initially at least my husband needs to be some place where he can study and hopefully work at least part time, so I need to be sure that I'm bringing in X amount of money to cover the bills - freelancing is great for freedom but can be so unpredictable!

Thanks for all of your replies, it's given me loads of stuff to think about and look into!