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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Sundsvall quality of life score: 69/100 (Sweden avg: 69/100). Combines safety (72), healthcare (72), walkability (64), air quality (AQI 7) and green space (48%). Compared to Västernorrland peers in 2026.
Sundsvall quality of life score: 69/100 (Sweden avg: 69/100). Combines safety (72), healthcare (72), walkability (64), air quality (AQI 7) and green space (48%). Compared to Västernorrland peers in 2026.
Sundsvall: cost index 93 (-8 vs national avg 101), rent 7 400 kr/month.
Västernorrland region average cost index: 101. Sundsvall is -8 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 69/100 — safety 72, healthcare 72, walkability 64.
Safety score: 72/100 (crime rate 52.1/1k). National average: 73/100.
The conventional wisdom says one thing. The data says another: Sundsvall has a cost index of 93 — 8 points below the Sweden national average of 101. Median income is 357 000 kr with rent at 7 400 kr/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 25%. This combination is rare — and valuable.
And here's the trade-off: looking at Västernorrland as a whole, the spread across all 24 cities is 10 points on the cost index. Helsingborg sits at the other end with index 103 and rent of 9 000 kr/mo. That's a difference you notice every single month.
On quality of life, Sundsvall scores a composite score of 69/100 — reflecting its safety (72), healthcare (72), and walkability (64) metrics. That said, affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Sweden is a good example of that tension.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sundsvall | 93 | 7 400 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 2 | Kalmar | 90 | 7 200 kr | 347 000 kr |
| 3 | Linköping | 102 | 8 700 kr | 378 000 kr |
| 4 | Jönköping | 96 | 7 900 kr | 362 000 kr |
| 5 | Umeå | 101 | 8 300 kr | 373 000 kr |
| 6 | Karlskrona | 90 | 6 900 kr | 341 000 kr |
| 7 | Karlstad | 94 | 7 500 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 8 | Östersund | 94 | 7 500 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 9 | Lund | 112 | 9 700 kr | 400 000 kr |
| 10 | Falun | 93 | 7 500 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 11 | Luleå | 96 | 7 600 kr | 378 000 kr |
| 12 | Visby | 100 | 8 200 kr | 347 000 kr |
| 13 | Uppsala | 114 | 10 400 kr | 405 000 kr |
| 14 | Örebro | 97 | 8 000 kr | 362 000 kr |
| 15 | Gävle | 93 | 7 500 kr | 352 000 kr |
| 16 | Växjö | 95 | 7 500 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 17 | Gothenburg | 112 | 10 100 kr | 395 000 kr |
| 18 | Norrköping | 96 | 8 100 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 19 | Halmstad | 104 | 8 700 kr | 383 000 kr |
| 20 | Västerås | 99 | 8 000 kr | 362 000 kr |
Sundsvall — cost index 93, rent 7 400 kr/mo, income 357 000 kr, QoL 69/100.
Kalmar — cost index 90, rent 7 200 kr/mo, income 347 000 kr, QoL 72/100.
Linköping — cost index 102, rent 8 700 kr/mo, income 378 000 kr, QoL 71/100.
Jönköping — cost index 96, rent 7 900 kr/mo, income 362 000 kr, QoL 71/100.
Umeå — cost index 101, rent 8 300 kr/mo, income 373 000 kr, QoL 71/100.
Sundsvall has a composite quality of life score of 69/100, covering safety (72), healthcare (72), walkability (64), air quality, and green space. Sweden average QoL: 69/100.
The Västernorrland region of average QoL score is 69/100. Sundsvall leads with 69/100, 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.
Sundsvall: cost index 93, rent 7 400 kr/mo, income 357 000 kr/yr, QoL 69/100. 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.