Städer
Compare Sweden's cities
Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and Uppsala side by side — rent, tax, climate, daylight and cost, on one screen. The numbers that actually decide where a move makes sense, with the cheapest, warmest and lightest highlighted.
At a glance
- Biggest
- Stockholm
- Cheapest rent
- Malmö
- Lowest tax
- Stockholm
- Mildest winter
- Malmö
- Most June light
- Uppsala
The numbers, side by side
| Stockholm | Göteborg | Malmö | Uppsala | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 990,000 | 609,000 | 368,000 | 250,000 |
| Rent, 1-room (SEK/mo) | 12,500 | 9,500 | 8,500 | 9,000 |
| Municipal tax | 30.55 % | 32.60 % | 32.42 % | 32.85 % |
| Lunch out (SEK) | 145 | 135 | 125 | 130 |
| Monthly transit (SEK) | 1,060 | 890 | 634 | 1,150 |
| January avg (°C) | -1.6 | +0.2 | +1.1 | -3.1 |
| July avg (°C) | +18.8 | +17.6 | +18.2 | +17.9 |
| Daylight, Dec | 6 h 05 min | 6 h 33 min | 7 h 00 min | 5 h 55 min |
| Daylight, Jun | 18 h 37 min | 17 h 53 min | 17 h 27 min | 18 h 52 min |
Highlighted cell = most favourable in that row. Figures are indicative and monthly where relevant.
Who each city suits
The university city, north of Stockholm
- Students & academics
- Life-science careers
- Stockholm salaries, calmer rents
Common questions
Which Swedish city is cheapest to live in?
Of the four major destinations, Malmö is generally the most affordable on rent, with Gothenburg and Uppsala below Stockholm too. Stockholm has the country's highest rents and living costs. Municipal tax also varies city to city, which changes your take-home — compare both the rent and the tax rate in the table above, since a lower-rent city with a higher tax rate can net out closer than it first appears.
Is Stockholm or Gothenburg better to live in?
Stockholm is bigger, with more jobs (especially in tech and finance), more culture and higher costs; Gothenburg is friendlier in reputation, cheaper, coastal, and strong in industry and engineering. Stockholm suits career-maximizers and those wanting capital-city scale; Gothenburg suits people prioritising affordability and a more relaxed feel. The comparison table shows the concrete trade-offs.
Which city in Sweden has the best weather?
Malmö in the far south has the mildest winters and the longest, warmest summers of the four, plus the most winter daylight. Stockholm and Uppsala are colder and darker in December. None are tropical, but the south is meaningfully gentler in winter — see the January average and December daylight rows.
Where should I move in Sweden for work?
Stockholm has the deepest job market, especially for tech, startups, finance and government. Gothenburg is strong in automotive, engineering and logistics; Malmö in life sciences and its link to Copenhagen; Uppsala in academia, biotech and pharma. Match the city to your field rather than to headline size.
Note
Indicative figures for orientation; rents and prices move. See each city's full profile for detail.
Indicative data, monthly where relevant · moving2.se