Sweden taxes everyone heavily: https://taxfoundation.org/how-scandinavian-countries-pay-the.... The top marginal rate kicks in at 1.5 times the average income. Sweden also relies heavily on the 25% VAT, which is disproportionately borne by the lower brackets.

Here is a hypothetical calculation of someone making $120k USD who is married with two kids: https://home.kpmg.com/xx/en/home/insights/2011/12/sweden-inc.... Such a person pays roughly 50% in total taxes. In the US it would be roughly 25% (in Maryland).