Compare countries · Estonia vs Sweden
Estonia vs Sweden
Estonia(Europe)·
Sweden(Europe)
Across 12 comparable indicators: Estonia leads on 6, Sweden on 5, 1 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Estonia cheaper than Sweden?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Estonia at 59.7 and Sweden at 68.0. Estonia is about 12% cheaper overall.
Is Estonia or Sweden safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Estonia scores 1.62 and Sweden scores 1.73. Estonia ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Estonia or Sweden?
On the UN Human Development Index, Estonia scores 0.905 and Sweden scores 0.959. Sweden scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Estonia compared to Sweden?
GNI per capita runs $32,310 in Estonia against $63,010 in Sweden; people live 79.3 years on average against 84.1; Numbeo users rate healthcare 75 against 68. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Estonia
59.7
Worse than 81% of countries
Sweden
68.0
Worse than 88% of countries
Estonia: 12% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Estonia
16.7
Worse than 61% of countries
Sweden
22.6
Worse than 76% of countries
Estonia: 26% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Estonia
1.62
Better than 85% of countries
Sweden
1.73
Better than 76% of countries
Estonia: more peaceful (1.62 vs 1.73).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Estonia
76.8
Better than 92% of countries
Sweden
52.1
Worse than 58% of countries
Estonia: higher perceived safety (76.8 vs 52.1).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Estonia
0.905
Better than 82% of countries
Sweden
0.959
Better than 97% of countries
Sweden: higher human development (0.959 vs 0.905).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Estonia
$52,106
Better than 77% of countries
Sweden
$72,529
Better than 89% of countries
Sweden: 39% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Estonia
79.3 yrs
Better than 77% of countries
Sweden
84.1 yrs
Better than 96% of countries
Sweden: 4.8 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Estonia
75.2
Better than 84% of countries
Sweden
68.3
Better than 63% of countries
Estonia: better-rated healthcare (75.2 vs 68.3).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Estonia
95 Mbps
Better than 56% of countries
Sweden
208 Mbps
Better than 79% of countries
Sweden: 119% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Estonia
89/100
Better than 98% of countries
Sweden
88/100
Better than 97% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Estonia
6.41
Better than 69% of countries
Sweden
7.25
Better than 97% of countries
Sweden: happier on the Cantril ladder (7.25 vs 6.41).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Estonia
71.2
Worse than 70% of countries
Sweden
65.0
Worse than 86% of countries
Estonia: more pleasant climate rating (71.2 vs 65.0).
Not comparable for this pair
- English proficiency: EF doesn't score one of these countries — usually because English is a native language there.
Deciding between Estonia and Sweden for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Estonia profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Sweden profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.