Sweden has some of the highest standards and costs of living in the European Union. Salaries are well above the EU average, but taxation is also very high. Almost all goods and services are considerably more expensive than in other EU countries.

There is a severe housing shortage in Stockholm. This has driven up rents in some areas recently. Most properties are only on the market for a very short time. The best time to view properties is two to four weeks prior to the move-in date. Houses are not available in the main cities.