Abstract Since the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, there has been a growing interest in localizing SDGs through co-designed and participatory approaches. However, the implementation of SDGs in Arctic towns and cities has been the subject of limited research. The unique environmental, economic, and social conditions of these cities raise questions about the suitability of applying generalized approaches and indicators. To shed light on the unique challenges faced by Arctic cities and to gain insight into local urban development professionals’ perspectives and priorities regarding sustainable urban development, we employed a multidisciplinary approach based on Q-methodology. We focus on towns and cities in the Nordic plus Greenland Arctic. The results reveal seven distinct factors representing both shared perspectives and areas of disagreement on sustainable development. The findings indicate that tailored approaches are necessary for the successful implementation of the SDGs in Arctic cities.