EUROCOSTSCOUNTRY COMPARISON · UPDATED 2026-07-15
Norway vs Sweden: taxes, salary and cost of living
Norway and Sweden present two different cost profiles: the first question is whether the salary gap compensates for housing and daily expenses.
Norway vs Sweden at a glance
| Indicator | Norway | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Standard VAT | 25% | 25% |
| Income tax | 22-47.4% | 29-55% |
| Social contributions | 22.1% | 38.42% |
| Tax burden | 36.6% | 42.6% |
| Average monthly salary | €5,850 | €3,750 |
| Studio rent | €1,170 | €900 |
| Monthly food estimate | €450 | €360 |
| Gasoline | 1.92 €/L | 1.55 €/L |
| Electricity | 0.17 €/kWh | 0.22 €/kWh |
Salary advantage and purchasing power
Norway records the higher listed monthly salary. The gap is €2,100, approximately 56.0% relative to the lower figure. Within the numeric EuroCosts sample, Norway ranks 5 of 27 for salary and Sweden ranks 11 of 27. Currency conversion and salary methodology can materially change a relocation budget.
Housing pressure and everyday spending
Sweden has the lower listed studio rent by €270, a 30.0% difference relative to the higher rent. Norway sits 31 of 37 and Sweden 27 of 37 in the available low-to-high rent ranking. Sweden also has the lower food estimate, so the housing result is reinforced by groceries.
After subtracting only the listed rent and food estimates, the simplified remainder is €4,230 in Norway and €2,490 in Sweden. This leaves €1,740 more in Norway, before utilities, transport, healthcare, childcare or personal taxes not already reflected in salary.
VAT and personal tax context
Norway has the lower listed tax burden by 6.0 percentage points. Standard VAT is 25% in Norway versus 25% in Sweden. Neither measure is a substitute for an individual payroll simulation.
Driving and mobility costs
Sweden has the lower listed gasoline price by €0.37 per litre. For a driver buying 50 litres a month, that headline difference is about €18.5 monthly, before insurance, parking and road charges.
Choosing by relocation scenario
For Norway and Sweden, short stays are influenced heavily by rent and restaurant prices; permanent relocation adds payroll, healthcare and administrative costs. These figures work best as a shortlist, not a final decision model.
Where the comparison lands
Norway produces the stronger simplified monthly remainder in this dataset, while Sweden leads on listed rent. Your income source determines which advantage matters more.
Sources and data references
- PwC standard VAT rates
- PwC personal income tax rates
- PwC corporate income tax rates
- EuroCosts data scope and generation process
Explore Norway comparisons · Explore Sweden comparisons