Cost of Living Comparison Between Umea and Haifa Cost of Living Comparison Between Umea and Haifa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,703 in Umea versus $2,444 in Haifa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,689 in Umea versus $3,705 in Haifa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,674 in Umea versus $4,966 in Haifa.

Living in Umea costs roughly 30% less than in Haifa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Umea 24% above, Haifa 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.72 SEK 151

$26.29 ₪79.6

-40.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.3 SEK 811

$110 ₪333

-23.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.52 SEK 120

$19.69 ₪59.7

-36.41%

Cappuccino

$4.14 SEK 39.86

$4.61 ₪13.98

-10.20%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 SEK 32.24

$3.70 ₪11.20

-9.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 SEK 24.01

$3.41 ₪10.32

-26.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.65 SEK 83.3

$10.91 ₪33.04

-20.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.78 SEK 74.9

$11.03 ₪33.41

-29.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 SEK 16.60

$2.52 ₪7.64

-31.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 SEK 33.16

$3.69 ₪11.18

-6.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.11 SEK 39.49

$3.94 ₪11.94

4.31%

Eggs

$4.24 SEK 40.83

$5.13 ₪15.54

-17.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.76 SEK 113

$17.88 ₪54.2

-34.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.16 SEK 107

$13.29 ₪40.26

-16.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.92 SEK 172

$23.95 ₪72.6

-25.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 SEK 24.71

$4.38 ₪13.28

-41.32%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 SEK 22.20

$3.01 ₪9.13

-23.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 SEK 26.90

$2.35 ₪7.11

19.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.50 SEK 43.27

$2.67 ₪8.08

68.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 SEK 15.81

$2.11 ₪6.41

-22.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 SEK 16.67

$1.81 ₪5.48

-4.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 SEK 23.87

$2.44 ₪7.40

1.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 SEK 12.88

$2.71 ₪8.22

-50.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.47 SEK 71.9

$13.44 ₪40.73

-44.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.24 SEK 98.5

$15.70 ₪47.56

-34.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 SEK 21.85

$3.16 ₪9.57

-28.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 SEK 24.58

$5.14 ₪15.56

-50.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 SEK 28.46

$2.74 ₪8.32

8.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.9 SEK 576

$102 ₪310

-41.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.48 SEK 72.0

$4.43 ₪13.41

68.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 SEK 16.74

$1.24 ₪3.75

40.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$65.8 SEK 633

$38.66 ₪117

70.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 SEK 16.65

$2.74 ₪8.30

-36.86%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.0K SEK 336.8K

$59.6K ₪180.7K

-41.30%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.7K SEK 334.1K

$59.8K ₪181.2K

-41.93%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.6 SEK 852

$273 ₪826

-67.50%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$34.80 SEK 335

$12.20 ₪36.96

185.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.77 SEK 267

$37.05 ₪112

-25.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 SEK 490

$72.6 ₪220

-29.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.65 SEK 353

$25.82 ₪78.2

41.94%

Cinema Ticket

$17.55 SEK 169

$15.98 ₪48.41

9.82%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$145 SEK 1,394

$1,183 ₪3,583

-87.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,984 SEK 47.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 SEK 1,023

$116 ₪351

-8.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.72 SEK 372

$72.4 ₪219

-46.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 SEK 1,173

$134 ₪407

-9.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 SEK 1,408

$160 ₪486

-8.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 SEK 7,622

$1,075 ₪3,256

-26.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$535 SEK 5,147

$811 ₪2,456

-33.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 SEK 11.1K

$1,686 ₪5,106

-31.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$883 SEK 8,490

$1,170 ₪3,544

-24.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,859 SEK 46.7K

$9,842 ₪29.8K

-50.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,171 SEK 30.5K

$6,245 ₪18.9K

-49.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,805 SEK 27.0K

$4,452 ₪13.5K

-37.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.65

5.05

-27.72%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Umea: August 29, 2026

Last update for Haifa: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $792 in Umea and $1,075 in Haifa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Haifa pays 59% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $84.0 in Umea vs $110 in Haifa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $362 vs $463 per month, with Umea cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Umea vs Haifa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Umea is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 59% lower in Haifa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $792 in Umea versus $1,075 in Haifa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,703 per month in Umea versus $2,444 in Haifa – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Umea runs roughly 71% less than in Haifa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,703 in Umea versus $2,444 in Haifa, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Umea but tight or insufficient in Haifa. The gap between the two cities makes Umea the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Umea is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Haifa, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Umea and Haifa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Umea gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Haifa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.