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Living in Sweden| Why Expats Are Leaving Sweden (No One Talks About This)

Robi Tange

60,828 views

Thinking about moving to Sweden in 2026? Before you make that decision, watch this.

Every year, thousands of people move to Sweden for free education, subsidized healthcare, safety, and work–life balance. But the reality of living in Sweden can be very different from what you see online.

In this video, I share my honest experience after living in Sweden for 10 years — including the real challenges of living in Sweden, why some expats struggle, and why many people are leaving Sweden.

If you’re planning to move to Sweden, work in Sweden, or study in Sweden, this video will help you understand both the advantages and disadvantages so you can make the right decision.

🇸🇪 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
Pros and cons of living in Sweden
Cost of living in Sweden
How hard it is to get a job in Sweden as a foreigner
Swedish work culture and work-life balance
The reality of making friends in Sweden
Immigration rules and residence permits in Sweden
Why expats are leaving Sweden
What no one tells you before moving to Sweden

▶️ WATCH NEXT (KEEP WATCHING 👇)
👉 Living in Sweden for 10 years: Salaries, C...
👉 The TRUTH About Moving to Sweden: Can you ...
👉 How to Get a Job in Sweden as a Foreigner: Life in Sweden | I spent 10 years in Swede...
👉 Swedish Culture Shock (What Surprised Me Most): Living in Sweden for 10 years: 8 Culture S...

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro – The Sweden Dream
01:45 Why People Move to Sweden
01:50 Reason 1
02:50 Reason 2
03:17 What is high cost protection?
04:07 Reason 3
04:23 Entitlements by law
04:52 The reality
04:58 Reality 1
05:30 Reality 2
06:30 What happens to highly qualified immigrants/expats
06:45 Reality 3
07:07 Are swedes racist?
07:57 Integration is a hoax
08:07 Reality 4
08:21 My personal experience with segregation
09:15 The reason for increase gang activities and crime rate in Sweden
09:30 Reality 5
10:01 Requirement for work permit
10:50 New Requirement for work permit as of June 1
11:50 Reality 6 ( if you plan to move to Sweden with children)
12:24 Young people getting separated from their families
13:12 Reality 7
13:57 Outre
14:32 What does it take?

✨ If you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to subscribe and join my journey in Sweden:
♥️ Subscribe here → https://www.youtube.com/@SwedenwithRo...

📲 Let’s connect beyond YouTube:
💛 Instagram → @ROBI_TANGE
🎵 TikTok → @swedenwithrobi - https://www.tiktok.com/@swedenwithrob...
🧋 Website → Jambo Scandinavia - https://jamboscandinavia.com/

💌 For business inquiries: robi.tange.morro@gmail.com

#lifeinsweden #stockholm #sweden

20 Comments

@okona1007 3 months ago

I moved from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia. The hardest part for me was adapting to the climate—the darkness and the freezing, damp winter wind bothered me terribly. But through socializing and exercising, it became a part of life that I accepted, and over time, that discomfort disappeared. All of us who have moved to this beautiful country should truly and without compromise follow the laws, especially by being responsible for preserving nature and accepting whatever job is offered to us at any given moment. Furthermore, what many migrants lack are good manners, which are especially valued here because they are a way of life. The video is really fair and well done. Thank you for the opportunity to leave my comment.

@cango5679 4 months ago

Having an introvert -leave-me-alone-personality trait helps. Been living in Sweden for 50 of my 58 years. Adapted perfectly. I do not want to interact with my neighbors, nor they with me. It's perfect. Would never move to a "Villa-område" - which makes it harder to accomplish this. A stuga på landet, with no sight of the next house is the dream. But to expensive. So a flat complex is the next best in being anonymous.

@janforsman9326 4 months ago

Neither the state nor the municipality pays for education, childcare, healthcare or anything else. It is we TAXPAYERS who pay for everything. The state is responsible for the distribution, and how it manages it is debatable.

@izadine 4 months ago

It's the same for native Swedes as well if you move to a smaller town, it's often hard to get new social life when moving there but it depends on the town/place.

@morgataria1 4 months ago

Such a well-balanced video, offering a perspective built on correct information! I wish I had access to such videos before I moved to Sweden, 15years ago! Keep up the good work! <3

@itsurguy7756 4 months ago (edited)

“Many Swedes believe the immigration process has become more difficult because large numbers of migrants have arrived from poorer countries, placing additional pressure on welfare systems and public services. Some critics also argue that certain newcomers bring cultural and religious traditions that can conflict with Swedish norms of secularism, equality, and social integration. Concerns that some individuals expect their religious beliefs to take precedence over Swedish customs have further intensified the national debate on immigration and integration.”

@rena-tx9fd 4 months ago

I live in sweden, hold the swedish citizenship and agree with everything Robi says. It reflects reality very well.

@nooneswedish5142 6 months ago

A large thanks for posting this information all true and the type that anyone that considers moving to Sweden benefits from knowing.

@MaurienAragaki 5 months ago

I'm living here for 8 years. It was not a dream. Your video is very important, a lot of people lack courage to say the not so good side. Is not the same as speaking bad about Sweden, but just pointing some difficult points.

@something3476 4 months ago (edited)

For reality two it honestly reminded me of my hispanic grandmother. She's extremely smart in Mexico and graduated with a teaching degree. She has lots of work experience with children and even homeschooled her own kids at the same time. When she came to America it was so hard for her to get a job. They didn't take her degree from Mexico. And she barely spoke english. She ended up getting hired by other hispanic connections working in a bakery.

@Gelis8 6 months ago

The reason Sweden is tightening its migration laws is that it is not possible to have things the way they were during the migration crisis in 2015. That you get access to the welfare society without paying a dime in taxes. It doesn't work in the long run. The money in the system is running out.

@brespeed3633 3 months ago

I have a family member that moved there with a doctorate, it took him 2 yrs to get a job in the field, he had to work low wage jobs in the mean time. The issue is that they complain the immigrates don't work but won't hire them for jobs.

@dianehill6126 2 months ago

Nobody should be surprised about the high taxes. How do you think everything gets paid for?

@Islandhopper-25 5 months ago

Thank you Robi, this is really informative and I hope I could have watched this video before moving to a foreign country

@oskar6607 4 months ago

The job market is tough in Sweden also for Swedes with Swedish educations.

@gokberkturkdogru9664 4 months ago

You have good content and like the way you explain things from your perspective. Keep on doing!

@LeyaRLundin 5 months ago

Great video! You forgot that many live with depression and anxiety too and it spreads easily to others. We also have to save to travel all the time to not get depressed here

@siddharthsinha9300 1 month ago

This was an excellent video! Thank you so much for making it!

@lifelearner10 5 months ago

The best way to immigrants in Sweden is to find out in what they are good, first get a job in the area, become the number one or two at work and then find a Swedish business partner to open a business. I’m expert in wines and I opened a restaurant with a Swedish partner, and it is going well, but mainly because my Swedish business partner is the face of the business, so Swedish people trust and come by. If was myself (a South American) the face of the business it would be empty like the Turkish kebabs here… Swedish people in the most of cases just spend their money with other Swedish, and I just released after many year living here.

@Metalmiltia 3 months ago

I am Swedish, but have lived in Britain for nearly 30 years. I find while Sweden can appear outward looking to visitors, the reality is a very specific inward looking culture that I don’t even fit into myself. There are some very good things about Sweden, but I feel much freer here.