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Cost of living in Linköping, Sweden (2026): cost index 102 (+1 vs national avg), rent 8 700 kr/mo, median income 378 000 kr/yr. Rent takes 28% of gross income. Full breakdown vs Östergötland peers below.
Cost of living in Linköping, Sweden (2026): cost index 102 (+1 vs national avg), rent 8 700 kr/mo, median income 378 000 kr/yr. Rent takes 28% of gross income. Full breakdown vs Östergötland peers below.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linköping | 102 | 8 700 kr | 378 000 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 | Helsingborg | 103 | 9 000 kr | 368 000 kr |
| 19 | Halmstad | 104 | 8 700 kr | 383 000 kr |
| 20 | Malmö | 108 | 9 500 kr | 378 000 kr |
Linköping: cost index 102 (+1 vs national avg 101), rent 8 700 kr/month.
Östergötland region average cost index: 101. Linköping is +1 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 71/100 — safety 75, healthcare 80, walkability 78.
Safety score: 75/100 (crime rate 46.3/1k). National average: 73/100.
Here's where the conversation shifts from 'affordable' to 'strategic': Linköping has a cost index of 102 — 1 points above the Sweden national average of 101. Median income is 378 000 kr with rent at 8 700 kr/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 28%. Financially, that's significant.
And there's one more thing: looking at Östergötland as a whole, the spread across all 24 cities is 34 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, Linköping scores a composite score of 71/100 — reflecting its safety (75), healthcare (80), and walkability (78) metrics. Pair that with the housing data, and the pattern sharpens. affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Sweden is a good example of that tension.
Linköping — cost index 102, rent 8 700 kr/mo, income 378 000 kr, QoL 71/100.
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.
Linköping has a cost index of 102 (national avg: 101). Median rent is 8 700 kr/month, median income 378 000 kr/year, giving a rent-to-income ratio of 28%.
The Östergötland region of average QoL score is 69/100. Linköping leads with 71/100, 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.
Linköping: cost index 102, rent 8 700 kr/mo, income 378 000 kr/yr, QoL 71/100. 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.