Cost of Living Comparison Between Bålsta and Gothenburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Bålsta and Gothenburg

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,609 in Bålsta versus $2,063 in Gothenburg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,497 in Bålsta versus $3,240 in Gothenburg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,386 in Bålsta versus $4,417 in Gothenburg.

Living in Bålsta costs roughly 22% less than in Gothenburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bålsta 20% above, Gothenburg 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.92 SEK 125

$13.74 SEK 132

-5.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.5 SEK 650

$91.2 SEK 879

-26.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.24 SEK 89.1

$10.42 SEK 100

-11.32%

Cappuccino

$4.15 SEK 39.98

$4.86 SEK 46.80

-14.61%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 SEK 26.84

$3.08 SEK 29.65

-9.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 SEK 22.92

$2.56 SEK 24.69

-7.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.53 SEK 72.5

$7.43 SEK 71.6

1.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.42 SEK 71.5

$7.72 SEK 74.4

-3.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 SEK 15.43

$1.76 SEK 16.94

-9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.13 SEK 20.50

$2.87 SEK 27.70

-25.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.79 SEK 36.55

$3.34 SEK 32.20

13.47%

Eggs

$3.86 SEK 37.19

$4.63 SEK 44.66

-16.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.70 SEK 113

$11.67 SEK 113

0.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.82 SEK 114

$12.41 SEK 120

-4.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.43 SEK 110

$18.65 SEK 180

-38.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 SEK 24.79

$3.07 SEK 29.63

-16.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.69 SEK 25.92

$2.64 SEK 25.48

1.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.34 SEK 22.56

$2.93 SEK 28.21

-20.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.01 SEK 29.04

$4.31 SEK 41.54

-30.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 SEK 15.11

$1.76 SEK 16.92

-10.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 SEK 12.57

$1.87 SEK 18.05

-30.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 SEK 15.04

$2.22 SEK 21.35

-29.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 SEK 10.31

$1.59 SEK 15.33

-32.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.57 SEK 73.0

$7.94 SEK 76.6

-4.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.24 SEK 98.7

$14.36 SEK 138

-28.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 SEK 15.40

$2.20 SEK 21.19

-27.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 SEK 18.46

$2.53 SEK 24.36

-24.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.28 SEK 31.61

$3.92 SEK 37.82

-16.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.9 SEK 722

$90.9 SEK 876

-17.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.39 SEK 61.6

$10.16 SEK 97.9

-37.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 SEK 11.78

$1.67 SEK 16.05

-26.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$81.6 SEK 786

$61.6 SEK 593

32.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.93 SEK 18.64

$1.96 SEK 18.89

-1.53%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.8K SEK 315.8K

$32.2K SEK 310.1K

1.85%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.7K SEK 334.8K

$35.6K SEK 342.7K

-2.28%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$52.0 SEK 501

$140 SEK 1,352

-62.91%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$21.11 SEK 203

$25.00 SEK 241

-15.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.55 SEK 352

$38.56 SEK 372

-5.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.47 SEK 390

$41.38 SEK 399

-2.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.85 SEK 239

$24.81 SEK 239

0.16%

Cinema Ticket

$13.65 SEK 131

$18.04 SEK 174

-24.33%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$128 SEK 1,237

$178 SEK 1,714

-27.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$734 SEK 7,069

$4,177 SEK 40.2K

-82.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.9 SEK 722

$89.5 SEK 863

-16.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.69 SEK 103

$39.39 SEK 380

-72.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 SEK 820

$95.4 SEK 919

-10.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 SEK 1,106

$153 SEK 1,470

-24.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$824 SEK 7,937

$1,096 SEK 10.6K

-24.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 SEK 6,388

$860 SEK 8,288

-22.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,372 SEK 13.2K

$1,875 SEK 18.1K

-26.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,065 SEK 10.3K

$1,404 SEK 13.5K

-24.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,802 SEK 36.6K

$6,493 SEK 62.6K

-41.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,106 SEK 29.9K

$3,504 SEK 33.8K

-11.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,963 SEK 38.2K

$3,590 SEK 34.6K

10.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

-30.72%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bålsta: July 14, 2026

Last update for Gothenburg: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $824 in Bålsta and $1,096 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bålsta pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $67.0 in Bålsta vs $91.0 in Gothenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $377 per month, with Bålsta 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

Bålsta vs Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bålsta wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Gothenburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bålsta the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 10% higher in Bålsta, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $824 in Bålsta versus $1,096 in Gothenburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,609 per month in Bålsta versus $2,063 in Gothenburg – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bålsta runs roughly 21% less than in Gothenburg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,609 in Bålsta versus $2,063 in Gothenburg, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bålsta but tight or insufficient in Gothenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Bålsta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Bålsta delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,609 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bålsta hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Bålsta 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.

Expats usually find Bålsta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.