Swedish tax rates on someone earning 100k USD would be hovering around 60%, and then there is between 12% and 25% sales tax on most things you buy. I'm surprised that I don't feel more ripped off than I do.
I think it's a question of value for money. You pay more, but you get more, too. The question is, do you get proportinately more than you pay? I think yes, but reasonable opinions can obviously differ.
I felt pretty frickin' ripped off last time I bought a beer in Stockholm, though. Just sayin'. : )