Taxes are alot higher than in Russia. You'll probably end up paying 50-60% in total taxes (income + sales + various other hidden taxes on consumer goods etc.). So thats something to consider.
If you are a freelancer, as an employee it's around 30%.
Ask HN: Should I go to Sweden for work?
31–40 of 73 posts
Re: Ask HN: Should I go to Sweden for work?
#32Be ready to pay up for a place to stay in Stockholm, I'm native and I gotta stay in queue in order to get to rent. There is no free market for apartments - at least not for rentals. You can take your chance at the Swedish equivalent of Craigs List or get to know someone. I've given up and decided to buy. Taxes aren't as high as people complain about, unless you're a freelancer. Small businesses get screwed royally an…
I like Stockholm a lot and think it´s a great oppertunity to come here.
Re: Ask HN: Should I go to Sweden for work?
#33Be ready to pay up for a place to stay in Stockholm, I'm native and I gotta stay in queue in order to get to rent. There is no free market for apartments - at least not for rentals. You can take your chance at the Swedish equivalent of Craigs List or get to know someone. I've given up and decided to buy. Taxes aren't as high as people complain about, unless you're a freelancer. Small businesses get screwed royally an…
I think your nativity makes you miss a few problems simply because they never cross your path. For example: > Language skills... nothing to say here. Every Swede can speak and write English. You won't have problems here. This is true insofar as that I've been studying Interaction Design in Sweden for one and a half years now (one half year to go) and I have not needed to learn Swedish. However, I've been informed tha…
Re: Ask HN: Should I go to Sweden for work?
#34I consulted with a startup in Stockholm Sweden for 2.5 months at the start of the year. It was an amazing experience, and needless to say I had an absolute blast. Made many great friends, a few of which have come to SF to visit me since. It is cold Dec-Feb, but around March starts getting nice, and Swedes come out and play. General Rules: - Don't talk to people on the subway. Swedes like their public transportation s…
If I could improve one thing about Sweden it would definitely be the pizza.
Re: Ask HN: Should I go to Sweden for work?
#35Re: Ask HN: Should I go to Sweden for work?
#36A couple of things: You have to be absolutely certain that they will supply living and work permit for both you and your family. Immigration laws are very strict in Scandinavia, so you'd obviously want to be certain there won't be any nasty surprises with getting your wife and children here. Living costs in Moscow and Stockholm is not that far from each other. A full-time position as a front-end developer usually won…
>Front-end contracting is typically full-time contracts on-location for between 6 and 12 months. It typically pays 100+ USD an hour, meaning a monthly income of 16K USD or so given a standard 40 hour workweek. A lot of those 16K will go away in taxes and social costs though. I am not sure what most freelancers use for estimates but somewhere between 50-75% should probably be deducted before getting a comparable numbe…
Re: Ask HN: Should I go to Sweden for work?
#37A couple of things: You have to be absolutely certain that they will supply living and work permit for both you and your family. Immigration laws are very strict in Scandinavia, so you'd obviously want to be certain there won't be any nasty surprises with getting your wife and children here. Living costs in Moscow and Stockholm is not that far from each other. A full-time position as a front-end developer usually won…
Re: Ask HN: Should I go to Sweden for work?
#38Also, I know a couple of Russians who went from no Swedish to conversational level in just 3 months. It's a simple language to pick up.
All in all, just go, talk to them and have a look around. Even if you accept and end up regretting it, you still will end up with a bit of immersion living in another (comfortable and interesting) country and that never hurts ;)
Re: Ask HN: Should I go to Sweden for work?
#39Be ready to pay up for a place to stay in Stockholm, I'm native and I gotta stay in queue in order to get to rent. There is no free market for apartments - at least not for rentals. You can take your chance at the Swedish equivalent of Craigs List or get to know someone. I've given up and decided to buy. Taxes aren't as high as people complain about, unless you're a freelancer. Small businesses get screwed royally an…
I think your nativity makes you miss a few problems simply because they never cross your path. For example: > Language skills... nothing to say here. Every Swede can speak and write English. You won't have problems here. This is true insofar as that I've been studying Interaction Design in Sweden for one and a half years now (one half year to go) and I have not needed to learn Swedish. However, I've been informed tha…
But yeah, regarding other types of job, without Swedish, you'll have it tough. My partner speaks fluent Mandarin and English and has a Bachelors degree with honours. Will probably have an incredible tough time finding a job in "Communications". Ugh... Shit degree but you didn't hear that from me.
Re: Ask HN: Should I go to Sweden for work?
#40I consulted with a startup in Stockholm Sweden for 2.5 months at the start of the year. It was an amazing experience, and needless to say I had an absolute blast. Made many great friends, a few of which have come to SF to visit me since. It is cold Dec-Feb, but around March starts getting nice, and Swedes come out and play. General Rules: - Don't talk to people on the subway. Swedes like their public transportation s…
Everything is he wrote is true, expect the bit about pizza. Swedish pizza is a culinary abomination and the people responsible for the kebab pizza should stand trial for crimes against humanity. If I could improve one thing about Sweden it would definitely be the pizza.