Cost of Living Comparison Between Umea and Zakynthos Cost of Living Comparison Between Umea and Zakynthos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,703 per month in Umea vs $1,953 in Zakynthos, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,689 per month in Umea vs $2,800 in Zakynthos, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,674 per month in Umea vs $3,648 in Zakynthos, rent included.

Umea is about 13% cheaper than Zakynthos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Umea and Zakynthos sit above the global median – Umea by 24%, Zakynthos by 42%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.72 SEK 151

$29.47 €25.42

-46.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.3 SEK 811

$57.8 €49.88

45.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.52 SEK 120

$11.64 €10.04

7.56%

Cappuccino

$4.14 SEK 39.86

$4.93 €4.25

-16.02%

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

$3.35 SEK 32.24

$5.65 €4.87

-40.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 SEK 24.01

$0.64 €0.55

290.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.65 SEK 83.3

$4.55 €3.92

90.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.78 SEK 74.9

$7.07 €6.10

10.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 SEK 16.60

$2.47 €2.13

-29.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 SEK 33.16

$2.00 €1.72

72.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.11 SEK 39.49

$2.68 €2.32

53.36%

Eggs

$4.24 SEK 40.83

$4.63 €3.99

-8.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.76 SEK 113

$14.84 €12.80

-20.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.16 SEK 107

$15.96 €13.77

-30.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.92 SEK 172

$12.95 €11.17

38.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 SEK 24.71

$3.15 €2.72

-18.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 SEK 22.20

$2.88 €2.49

-19.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 SEK 26.90

$1.96 €1.69

42.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.50 SEK 43.27

$2.24 €1.93

100.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 SEK 15.81

$1.23 €1.06

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 SEK 16.67

$1.15 €0.99

50.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 SEK 23.87

$0.77 €0.67

222.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 SEK 12.88

$1.50 €1.30

-10.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.47 SEK 71.9

$5.42 €4.68

37.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.24 SEK 98.5

$7.46 €6.43

37.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 SEK 21.85

$1.39 €1.20

63.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 SEK 24.58

$3.14 €2.71

-18.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 SEK 28.46

$1.72 €1.49

72.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.9 SEK 576

$49.75 €42.91

20.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.48 SEK 72.0

$4.09 €3.53

82.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 SEK 16.74

$1.11 €0.96

56.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$65.8 SEK 633

$15.97 €13.78

312.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 SEK 16.65

$2.15 €1.85

-19.53%

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

$35.0K SEK 336.8K

$29.2K €25.2K

19.76%

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

$34.7K SEK 334.1K

$25.6K €22.1K

35.56%

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

$88.6 SEK 852

$384 €331

-76.93%

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

$34.80 SEK 335

$43.67 €37.67

-20.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.77 SEK 267

$50.4 €43.47

-44.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 SEK 490

$29.72 €25.64

71.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.65 SEK 353

$25.74 €22.20

42.39%

Cinema Ticket

$17.55 SEK 169

$12.87 €11.10

36.36%

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

$145 SEK 1,394

$436 €376

-66.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,984 SEK 47.9K

$7,959 €6,864

-37.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 SEK 1,023

$118 €101

-9.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.72 SEK 372

$91.5 €79.0

-57.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 SEK 1,173

$125 €108

-2.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 SEK 1,408

$114 €98.1

28.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 SEK 7,622

$412 €355

92.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$535 SEK 5,147

$405 €349

32.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 SEK 11.1K

$823 €710

40.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$883 SEK 8,490

$570 €491

54.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,859 SEK 46.7K

$2,926 €2,523

66.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,171 SEK 30.5K

$2,377 €2,050

33.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,805 SEK 27.0K

$1,287 €1,110

118.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.65

4.44

-17.79%

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

Last update for Umea: August 29, 2026

Last update for Zakynthos: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $792 in Umea versus $412 in Zakynthos. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 118% higher in Umea, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in Umea versus $58.0 in Zakynthos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $362 vs $344 – making Zakynthos the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Zakynthos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Zakynthos is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,555 per month in Umea and $2,929 in Zakynthos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Umea, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $145 per month in Umea and $436 in Zakynthos. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Zakynthos – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Umea, where all-in costs run around $1,703, than in Zakynthos at $1,953. In Umea it covers expenses comfortably, while in Zakynthos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Umea – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Umea. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Zakynthos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.