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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Cost of living in Gothenburg, Sweden (2026): cost index 112 (+11 vs national avg), rent 10 100 kr/mo, median income 395 000 kr/yr. Rent takes 31% of gross income. Full breakdown vs Västra Götaland peers below.
Cost of living in Gothenburg, Sweden (2026): cost index 112 (+11 vs national avg), rent 10 100 kr/mo, median income 395 000 kr/yr. Rent takes 31% of gross income. Full breakdown vs Västra Götaland peers below.
Gothenburg: cost index 112 (+11 vs national avg 101), rent 10 100 kr/month.
Västra Götaland region average cost index: 101. Gothenburg is +11 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 68/100 — safety 68, healthcare 80, walkability 82.
Safety score: 68/100 (crime rate 64.2/1k). National average: 73/100.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gothenburg | 112 | 10 100 kr | 395 000 kr |
| 2 | Kalmar | 90 | 7 200 kr | 347 000 kr |
| 3 | Karlskrona | 90 | 6 900 kr | 341 000 kr |
| 4 | Falun | 93 | 7 500 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 5 | Gävle | 93 | 7 500 kr | 352 000 kr |
| 6 | Sundsvall | 93 | 7 400 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 7 | Karlstad | 94 | 7 500 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 8 | Östersund | 94 | 7 500 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 9 | Växjö | 95 | 7 500 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 10 | Norrköping | 96 | 8 100 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 11 | Jönköping | 96 | 7 900 kr | 362 000 kr |
| 12 | Luleå | 96 | 7 600 kr | 378 000 kr |
| 13 | Eskilstuna | 96 | 7 700 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 14 | Örebro | 97 | 8 000 kr | 362 000 kr |
| 15 | Västerås | 99 | 8 000 kr | 362 000 kr |
| 16 | Visby | 100 | 8 200 kr | 347 000 kr |
| 17 | Umeå | 101 | 8 300 kr | 373 000 kr |
| 18 | Linköping | 102 | 8 700 kr | 378 000 kr |
| 19 | Helsingborg | 103 | 9 000 kr | 368 000 kr |
| 20 | Halmstad | 104 | 8 700 kr | 383 000 kr |
Let's cut to what actually matters here. Gothenburg has a cost index of 112 — 11 points above the Sweden national average of 101. Median income is 395 000 kr with rent at 10 100 kr/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 31%. This combination is rare — and valuable.
But here's the flip side: looking at Västra Götaland as a whole, the spread across all 24 cities is 24 points on the cost index. Stockholm sits at the other end with index 136 and rent of 13 200 kr/mo. That's a difference you notice every single month.
On quality of life, Gothenburg scores a composite score of 68/100 — reflecting its safety (68), healthcare (80), and walkability (82) metrics. Zooming out, affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Sweden is a good example of that tension.
Gothenburg — cost index 112, rent 10 100 kr/mo, income 395 000 kr, QoL 68/100.
Kalmar — cost index 90, rent 7 200 kr/mo, income 347 000 kr, QoL 72/100.
Karlskrona — cost index 90, rent 6 900 kr/mo, income 341 000 kr, QoL 71/100.
Falun — cost index 93, rent 7 500 kr/mo, income 357 000 kr, QoL 70/100.
Gävle — cost index 93, rent 7 500 kr/mo, income 352 000 kr, QoL 69/100.
Gothenburg has a cost index of 112 (national avg: 101). Median rent is 10 100 kr/month, median income 395 000 kr/year, giving a rent-to-income ratio of 31%.
The Västra Götaland region of average QoL score is 69/100. Gothenburg leads with 68/100, reflecting safety, healthcare access, walkability, and green space.
Our index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Sub-categories cover housing, food, transport, utilities, and healthcare. Data sources include SCB, Lantmäteriet, Skatteverket.
Gothenburg: cost index 112, rent 10 100 kr/mo, income 395 000 kr/yr, QoL 68/100. Kalmar: cost index 90, rent 7 200 kr/mo, income 347 000 kr/yr, QoL 72/100.
This analysis uses data from SCB, Lantmäteriet, Skatteverket to rank cities in Sweden. The cost of living index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Quality of life scores combine safety, healthcare, walkability, air quality, green space, and transit metrics. Salary ranges use national occupation data adjusted for local cost differences. Data is updated regularly to reflect current market conditions.