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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Umeå housing market (2026): median home price 3 050 000 kr, rent 8 300 kr/mo, rent-to-income ratio 27%. Compared to Västerbotten peers.
Umeå housing market (2026): median home price 3 050 000 kr, rent 8 300 kr/mo, rent-to-income ratio 27%. Compared to Västerbotten peers.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Umeå | 101 | 8 300 kr | 373 000 kr |
| 2 | Sundsvall | 93 | 7 400 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 3 | Karlskrona | 90 | 6 900 kr | 341 000 kr |
| 4 | Östersund | 94 | 7 500 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 5 | Falun | 93 | 7 500 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 6 | Gävle | 93 | 7 500 kr | 352 000 kr |
| 7 | Kalmar | 90 | 7 200 kr | 347 000 kr |
| 8 | Eskilstuna | 96 | 7 700 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 9 | Karlstad | 94 | 7 500 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 10 | Luleå | 96 | 7 600 kr | 378 000 kr |
| 11 | Växjö | 95 | 7 500 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 12 | Norrköping | 96 | 8 100 kr | 357 000 kr |
| 13 | Jönköping | 96 | 7 900 kr | 362 000 kr |
| 14 | Västerås | 99 | 8 000 kr | 362 000 kr |
| 15 | Örebro | 97 | 8 000 kr | 362 000 kr |
| 16 | Helsingborg | 103 | 9 000 kr | 368 000 kr |
| 17 | Linköping | 102 | 8 700 kr | 378 000 kr |
| 18 | Malmö | 108 | 9 500 kr | 378 000 kr |
| 19 | Halmstad | 104 | 8 700 kr | 383 000 kr |
| 20 | Visby | 100 | 8 200 kr | 347 000 kr |
Umeå: cost index 101 (0 vs national avg 101), rent 8 300 kr/month.
Västerbotten region average cost index: 101. Umeå is 0 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 71/100 — safety 79, healthcare 82, walkability 72.
Safety score: 79/100 (crime rate 38.4/1k). National average: 73/100.
A closer look reveals a more interesting picture. Umeå has a cost index of 101 — 0 points below the Sweden national average of 101. Median income is 373 000 kr with rent at 8 300 kr/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 27%. Financially, that's significant.
Looking at the bigger picture, looking at Västerbotten as a whole, the spread across all 24 cities is 35 points on the cost index. Stockholm sits at the other end with index 136 and rent of 13 200 kr/mo. This stands out as genuinely impressive.
On quality of life, Umeå scores a composite score of 71/100 — reflecting its safety (79), healthcare (82), and walkability (72) metrics. That said, affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Sweden is a good example of that tension.
Umeå — cost index 101, rent 8 300 kr/mo, income 373 000 kr, QoL 71/100.
Sundsvall — cost index 93, rent 7 400 kr/mo, income 357 000 kr, QoL 69/100.
Karlskrona — cost index 90, rent 6 900 kr/mo, income 341 000 kr, QoL 71/100.
Östersund — cost index 94, rent 7 500 kr/mo, income 357 000 kr, QoL 71/100.
Falun — cost index 93, rent 7 500 kr/mo, income 357 000 kr, QoL 70/100.
Umeå has a cost index of 101 (national avg: 101), rent 8 300 kr/mo, median income 373 000 kr/yr, and a quality of life score of 71/100.
The Västerbotten region of average QoL score is 69/100. Umeå 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.
Umeå: cost index 101, rent 8 300 kr/mo, income 373 000 kr/yr, QoL 71/100. Sundsvall: cost index 93, rent 7 400 kr/mo, income 357 000 kr/yr, QoL 69/100.
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.