😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,209 in Arnhem versus $2,058 in Gothenburg.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,392 in Arnhem versus $3,193 in Gothenburg.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,574 in Arnhem versus $4,328 in Gothenburg.
😐Living in Arnhem is roughly 7% more expensive than Gothenburg, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Arnhem65% above, Gothenburg54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arnhem
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.82€16.19
$13.74SEK 128
36.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.1€61.1
$93.9SEK 876
-24.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.12€11.29
$10.34SEK 96.5
26.89%
Cappuccino
$4.23€3.64
$4.73SEK 44.18
-10.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21€2.76
$2.97SEK 27.70
8.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48€2.13
$2.53SEK 23.64
-1.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.34€5.46
$7.26SEK 67.8
-12.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22€4.49
$7.72SEK 72.0
-32.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arnhem
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.06
$1.68SEK 15.67
-26.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.42€2.08
$2.85SEK 26.62
-15.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.23€2.78
$3.32SEK 30.95
-2.71%
Eggs
$4.77€4.11
$4.65SEK 43.41
2.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.94€11.99
$11.80SEK 110
18.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.09€14.70
$12.61SEK 118
35.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.13€14.74
$19.02SEK 178
-9.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.05
$3.10SEK 28.92
-22.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.49€2.14
$2.74SEK 25.54
-9.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$2.91SEK 27.11
-33.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.14€3.56
$4.18SEK 38.96
-0.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.18€1.87
$1.66SEK 15.50
31.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16€1.86
$1.85SEK 17.25
16.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24€1.06
$2.27SEK 21.22
-45.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.67
$1.55SEK 14.46
-49.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.52€12.49
$7.82SEK 73.0
85.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.18€6.17
$15.32SEK 143
-53.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.17
$2.26SEK 21.08
-39.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74€2.36
$2.61SEK 24.32
4.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Arnhem
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.23€3.63
$3.80SEK 35.45
11.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$117€101
$88.6SEK 827
31.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.86€3.32
$10.11SEK 94.3
-61.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.62€2.26
$1.66SEK 15.48
57.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.68€23.81
$61.7SEK 576
-55.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.20€1.89
$1.89SEK 17.64
16.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K€32.3K
$32.0KSEK 298.9K
17.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€33.7K
$34.5KSEK 321.6K
13.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arnhem
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$265€228
$138SEK 1,292
91.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.80€25.63
$24.95SEK 233
19.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.6€45.24
$38.25SEK 357
37.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arnhem
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.61€36.66
$41.78SEK 390
1.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.59€6.53
$25.26SEK 236
-69.95%
Cinema Ticket
$14.99€12.90
$17.98SEK 168
-16.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arnhem
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,866€1,605
$175SEK 1,637
963.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,166€5,304
$4,215SEK 39.3K
46.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arnhem
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.3€81.2
$87.6SEK 817
7.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.69€15.22
$40.28SEK 376
-56.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.6€73.6
$96.9SEK 904
-11.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.7€76.3
$156SEK 1,458
-43.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arnhem
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,163€1,001
$1,125SEK 10.5K
3.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$873€751
$873SEK 8,148
0.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,070€1,780
$1,917SEK 17.9K
7.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,657€1,425
$1,434SEK 13.4K
15.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,398€4,643
$6,696SEK 62.5K
-19.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,238€3,645
$3,764SEK 35.1K
12.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arnhem
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,834€3,298
$3,953SEK 36.9K
-3.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.25
4.33
-24.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arnhem: May 31, 2026
Last update for Gothenburg: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,163 in Arnhem and $1,125 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gothenburg pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $71.0 in Arnhem vs $94.0 in Gothenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $381 per month, with Arnhem cheaper across the board.
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
Arnhem vs Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Arnhem and Gothenburg?
Arnhem and Gothenburg differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($2,209 vs $2,058 including rent). Gothenburg is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Gothenburg earns 3% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Arnhem and Gothenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,163 in Arnhem versus $1,125 in Gothenburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Arnhem pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Gothenburg – a meal for two runs $94.0 versus $71.0 in Arnhem. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,058 in Gothenburg versus $2,209 in Arnhem, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gothenburg but tight or insufficient in Arnhem. The gap between the two cities makes Gothenburg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Arnhem and Gothenburg?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Arnhem or Gothenburg safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Arnhem and Gothenburg are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Arnhem or Gothenburg?
Expats usually find Gothenburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Arnhem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.