The coastal Swedes dealt mainly with fishing and seal hunting, but also cultivated land, especially the ones living on the mainland. The living conditions of the Swedish peasants were similar to the ones of the Estonian peasants, but their legal status was better than of the Estonians especially in the first centuries: they were personally free and were not attached to the land.
Rannarootslased tegelesid peamiselt kala- ja hülgepüügiga, kuid harisid selle kõrval ka maad, eriti need, kes mandril elasid. Elamistingimused olid rootsi talupoegadel eesti omadega sarnased, kuid nende õiguslik seisund oli eriti esimestel sajanditel eestlastest parem: nad olid isiklikult vabad ega olnud sunnismaised.