Västerås, Sweden
73Västerås is an old trading and industrial city on Lake Mälaren, about an hour west of Stockholm by rail. Medieval lanes, waterfront promenades and leafy suburbs make it feel quietly urban, with Sweden’s energy giant ABB as its modern heartbeat.
Livability scores
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Walkability 15 / 20
Central Västerås has dense shops, services and a compact street grid, making most daily errands reachable on foot.
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Rail Connectivity 7.3 / 10
Västerås central station is on the Mälarbanan main line with frequent SJ and Mälartåg services to Stockholm and Örebro.
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Public Transit 7 / 10
VL runs an extensive city bus network with dense routes and frequent services across Västerås urban area.
- Affordability 6 / 10
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Safety 8 / 10
Numbeo reports Västerås has high safety and low crime perception scores compared with many European cities.
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Air Quality 9 / 10
EEA and Naturvårdsverket data show Västerås generally meets EU limit values with low PM and NO2 levels.
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Quality Of Life 8 / 10
Numbeo lists Västerås with high scores for purchasing power, safety and health care, supporting strong quality of life.
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Food Culture 6 / 10
Västerås has a modest restaurant scene with few nationally or internationally recognized fine-dining listings.
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Car Free Practicality 7 / 10
Compact urban form, good cycling infrastructure and VL buses make daily life feasible without a car for many residents.
Advantages & drawbacks
Advantages
- Quick rail link to Stockholm while keeping lower living costs
- Safe, family-friendly environment with Swedish schools and healthcare
- Green lakefront, good cycling paths and compact centre
Drawbacks
- Limited nightlife and food scene compared with Stockholm
- Job market skewed to Swedish-speaking industrial and technical roles
- Winters are long, dark and cold by many expat standards
Monthly costs
- Estimated monthly cost €1,600 – €1,800
- Monthly transit pass €70
Sources
Figures on this page are compiled from the following references. Data is indicative and may change over time.