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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Ranking of cities in Sweden for 2026. Gothenburg leads with a cost index of 108 and rent of 9 500 kr/month.
Ranking of cities in Sweden for 2026. Gothenburg leads with a cost index of 108 and rent of 9 500 kr/month.
Gothenburg ranks #1 with a cost index of 108 and rent of 9 500 kr/month.
Average cost index across these cities: 103 (+6 vs national average of 97).
Average quality of life: 71/100. Top: Gothenburg at 69/100.
Safest city: Umeå (79/100 safety score).
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gothenburg | 108 | 9 500 kr | 375 000 kr |
| 2 | Umeå | 97 | 7 800 kr | 355 000 kr |
Let's cut to what actually matters here. Gothenburg stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 108 and median income of 375 000 kr, it offers competitive value despite costs slightly above the national median. This combination is rare — and valuable.
On quality of life, Umeå leads with a composite score of 72/100 — reflecting its safety (79), healthcare (82), and walkability (72) metrics. Layer in taxes, though, and the math changes. affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Sweden is a good example of that tension.
Gothenburg — cost index 108, rent 9 500 kr/mo, income 375 000 kr, QoL 69/100.
Umeå — cost index 97, rent 7 800 kr/mo, income 355 000 kr, QoL 72/100.
The country average QoL score is 70/100. Gothenburg leads with 69/100, reflecting its 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 (ranked #1) has a cost index of 108 and rent of 9 500 kr/mo. Umeå (#2) has index 97 and rent 7 800 kr/mo — a 11-point gap.
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.