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Life in a small town in Sweden

Life in a small town in Sweden

Everyone has different preferences when it comes to day-to-day life. While some people prefer the big city pulse, others prefer the calm of a small town. Life in a small village in Sweden comes with many advantages and most of the cities offer everything you need, from kindergartens and schools to gyms and libraries. In this blog post, we will closely examine the many advantages and some possible disadvantages of life in a small Swedish town.

Advantages of living in a small town in Sweden:

  • Cheaper housing: One of the main advantages of living in a small town in Sweden is that housing is way cheaper than housing in a big town. In a smaller city, you have more opportunities to live larger without spending a fortune every month. Instead of paying lots of money for a tiny apartment in one of the big cities, you can live in a small town and have a bigger home for you and your family and still pay less every month.

  • Closeness to nature: Another advantage is the closeness to nature. In many smaller cities, you have nature just around the corner from your house or at least not further away than 10 minutes by car. This is perfect for those who love outdoor activities or just enjoy a walk in the fresh air now and then. You can spontaneously clear your mind out in nature without it being too big of a project. If your family comes with a four-legged family member, it’s even more convenient to live in a small town in Sweden.

     

  • Less air pollution: In smaller towns, the air quality is better. According to a study (https://www.lu.se/artikel/ny-rapport-stadsluftens-halsobelastning-pa-barn) that was made earlier this year on behalf of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, children at a kindergarten in traffic-congested metropolitan areas are out for a significantly shorter time of their day at preschool but still risk inhaling twice as high a dose of air pollution compared to children in medium-sized and smaller towns.

     

  • Familiar jargon:  Another aspect that many consider positive is that people tend to know each other better in smaller towns. Some will say that “everyone knows everyone”, which obviously isn’t always true, but there is something to it. In a small city, you know a bigger percentage of the people, so you often stop for a chat on the street with a friend or acquaintance. If you’re in the middle of cooking and realize that you’re lacking an important ingredient or need help with something else in the household, you can always count on your closest neighbour or someone else down the street to help you. Familiar jargon is something that a lot of people value a lot.

     

  • Satisfied youngsters: Young people in smaller towns tend to be more satisfied with their friends and leisure interests than those in big cities. This is shown by surveys that the previous National Board of Youth Affairs (https://www.mucf.se/en) has carried out. Close social relationships are one of the advantages of life as a young person in a small town in Sweden.

 Disadvantages:

  • Poorer connection with public transport: In smaller towns, public transport access is not as good as in bigger cities. There is often a lack of connections with local traffic, and it offers fewer departures. If you have somewhere to be at a particular time, you might have to leave your home earlier than what feels necessary to make sure you make it on time. You will always have to take into consideration the bus and train changes. On the other hand, public transport is less crowded and not as busy in smaller cities.

  • Worse opening hours of stores: Another difference between smaller and bigger cities is, in many cases, the opening hours of stores. Grocery stores and other types of stores in a smaller city are usually not open as long as the ones in a big city. Worse opening hours do not give you the same flexibility as you might have in a bigger town. To manage this situation well, sometimes you will have to plan a little bit more in advance. It’s a matter of habit, and if you move to a small town in Sweden, you’ll soon get used to it.

     

  • Fewer activities close at hand: Even though small towns hold all the necessities in terms of facilities like kindergartens, schools, gyms, libraries, and leisure activities, now and then you will notice that there are fewer activities close at hand than in a bigger city. The supply of nice restaurants, concerts, and other events is limited in a small town, so you might have to go by car or train to another, bigger city if you want to participate.
Small town sweden

Life in a small town in Sweden has a lot to offer. When you have more significant opportunities to afford accommodation, nature around the corner, clean and fresh air, a friendly community, and satisfied youngsters – who are not ready to compromise when it comes to public transport connections, shorter opening hours in the grocery store, and fewer activities nearby? Take the opportunity and relocate to a small Swedish town to work as a medical professional. MediCarrera will help you all along the way.

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