Compare countries · Sweden vs United States
Sweden vs United States
Sweden(Europe)·
United States(North America)
Across 12 comparable indicators: Sweden leads on 6, United States on 4, 2 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Sweden cheaper than United States?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Sweden at 68.0 and United States at 68.8. The two are effectively tied (under 2% apart).
Which has the higher quality of life, Sweden or United States?
On the UN Human Development Index, Sweden scores 0.959 and United States scores 0.938. 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 Sweden compared to United States?
GNI per capita runs $63,010 in Sweden against $88,810 in United States; people live 84.1 years on average against 78.9; Numbeo users rate healthcare 68 against 67. 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)
Sweden
68.0
Worse than 88% of countries
United States
68.8
Worse than 90% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Sweden
22.6
Worse than 76% of countries
United States
40.7
Worse than 95% of countries
Sweden: 44% cheaper rents.
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Sweden
52.1
Worse than 58% of countries
United States
50.8
Worse than 63% of countries
Sweden: higher perceived safety (52.1 vs 50.8).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Sweden
0.959
Better than 97% of countries
United States
0.938
Better than 91% of countries
Sweden: higher human development (0.959 vs 0.938).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Sweden
$72,529
Better than 89% of countries
United States
$90,027
Better than 95% of countries
United States: 24% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Sweden
84.1 yrs
Better than 96% of countries
United States
78.9 yrs
Better than 75% of countries
Sweden: 5.2 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Sweden
68.3
Better than 63% of countries
United States
67.0
Better than 59% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Sweden
208 Mbps
Better than 79% of countries
United States
308 Mbps
Better than 96% of countries
United States: 48% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Sweden
88/100
Better than 97% of countries
United States
63/100
Better than 64% of countries
Sweden: freer press (88 vs 63 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Sweden
7.25
Better than 97% of countries
United States
6.82
Better than 85% of countries
Sweden: happier on the Cantril ladder (7.25 vs 6.82).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Sweden
609
Better than 88% of countries
United States
700
Better than 94% of countries
United States: stronger English proficiency (700 vs 609).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Sweden
65.0
Worse than 86% of countries
United States
75.8
Worse than 60% of countries
United States: more pleasant climate rating (75.8 vs 65.0).
Not comparable for this pair
- Peace — Global Peace Index: The Global Peace Index doesn't cover one of these countries.
Deciding between Sweden and United States 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 Sweden profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full United States profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.