[magduf]

>The national median wage is ~$35K ($27K post tax) afaik, and people live good lives on that, albeit in smaller towns

That doesn't sound like much help for a single expatriate coming to Sweden for software work. They're going to want to live in a city where there's lots of other people (including other expats) to network with, date, etc.

[throwaway494949]

True. A common starting salary in Stockholm is $50K ($37K), with that you can afford a nice and central apartment (~$20K without a mortgage, otherwise [potentially much, of course] lower).

Note that you don't rent apartments, you buy them. It makes a comparison harder.