How do I calculate total housing cost in Sweden to compare different homes?
Add up interest costs ("räntekostnad") after tax deductions ("skatteavdrag") (you get back 30% of interest costs ("räntekostnader") up to 100,000 SEK, 21% above that), amortization ("amortering"), monthly fee ("månadsavgift") (for co-ops) or running costs ("driftkostnader") (for houses: electricity, heating, water, waste, insurance), and maintenance costs ("underhållskostnader"). For houses, budget 1-2% of the property's value per year for maintenance. Remember that amortization ("amortering") is savings even if it feels like an expense. Calculate with a higher rate than today's (add 2-3 percentage points) to stress your budget.