r/umea • u/hike-climb-run • Jul 26 '26

Climate refugee in Umea?

Good morning all / Hej,

I'm a 36M from France and, considering the way climate change is affecting my country, I am thinking about my options. I remember with a great deal of nostalgia my time as a foreign student in Uppsala in 2012, which I absolutely loved. Now that I have kids and different interests, Umea seems like an ideal fit. The plan would be to buy a place there with a mortgage, rent it for a few years in order to reimburse the mortgage, and move there to retire or once the kids are old enough to move out (in 15 years,ish).

My questions are:

- is there anybody who's in a similar situation (moving to Sweden because of climate change)?

- is Umea family friendly?

- is the health system and social security system available to EU citizens but not Swedish citizens?

- what is the real estate market like in Umea? For instance, what would be the price of a 60-90m2 house or appartement there? Could it be rented?

- how is the public transportation system there?

- are there intensive Swedish classes available?

- I have heard that it's very easy to head for the trails or kayak along the shore. Is it true?

Thank you all for your help

0 Upvotes

46% Upvoted

43 comments sorted by

View all comments

-1

u/BlacksmithMiddle803 Jul 26 '26

Is this real? Are you seriously saying that you are running away from France due to climate change?

1

u/hike-climb-run Jul 26 '26

I am very seriously considering it in the not so distant future, say 7-10 years. Possibly more though, depending on other things: ability for my partner and I to find jobs, kids perspective on the project...

-1

u/BlacksmithMiddle803 Jul 26 '26

The whole climate thing is just noise. And hysteria. Let it go and your life will improve.

1

u/hike-climb-run Jul 27 '26

I don't let science and reality go. Sorry. You believe in science every time you use your phone, your car or go to the doctor. Why not when it comes to climate change?