I’m a 62-year-old American who moved to southern Sweden (Karlshamn) two years ago, and I just filed for Social Security! I am definitely looking forward to my retirement here! It’s a beautiful country, and everyone is so nice and relaxed here. The cost of living is also low, compared to the US. We were able to buy a really nice, 4-bedroom house here in a charming neighborhood surrounded by well maintained walking paths that connect us to forests, a lake and a downtown with shops, restaurants and a supermarket. We are also a short bike ride away from a really nice swimming lake; as well as a very large well maintained public pool with saunas and steam rooms that is right next to the Baltic Sea (with the option for a dip in the Baltic and then direct access to showers and a sauna. There is also a super modern train that departs every hour with the connections to all major cities, and is just 2-1/2 hours away from the Kastrup International Airport located in Copenhagen, Denmark (which is where we catch all of our international flights from). Stockholm is a 6-hour train ride north (useful for things like renewing passports, etc.).
I live in Sweden and can say for most of you it will mean living living out your golden years in an apartment watching endless episodes of På Spåret and re-runs of Police Academy films as you wish for death. But if that is your thing then that's cool.
Very nice summary of the lifestyle in Sweden for US retirees. However, you forgot the most important thing...how is it possible? What is required?
I’m a 62-year-old American who moved to southern Sweden (Karlshamn) two years ago, and I just filed for Social Security! I am definitely looking forward to my retirement here! It’s a beautiful country, and everyone is so nice and relaxed here. The cost of living is also low, compared to the US. We were able to buy a really nice, 4-bedroom house here in a charming neighborhood surrounded by well maintained walking paths that connect us to forests, a lake and a downtown with shops, restaurants and a supermarket. We are also a short bike ride away from a really nice swimming lake; as well as a very large well maintained public pool with saunas and steam rooms that is right next to the Baltic Sea (with the option for a dip in the Baltic and then direct access to showers and a sauna. There is also a super modern train that departs every hour with the connections to all major cities, and is just 2-1/2 hours away from the Kastrup International Airport located in Copenhagen, Denmark (which is where we catch all of our international flights from). Stockholm is a 6-hour train ride north (useful for things like renewing passports, etc.).
Swedish social security or American social security?
I live in Sweden and can say for most of you it will mean living living out your golden years in an apartment watching endless episodes of På Spåret and re-runs of Police Academy films as you wish for death. But if that is your thing then that's cool.
I've looked into moving to Sweden as a retiree and I'm not seeing a pathway.