Cost of Living Comparison Between Boras and Ilmenau Cost of Living Comparison Between Boras and Ilmenau

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,996 in Boras versus $2,100 in Ilmenau.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,349 in Boras versus $2,590 in Ilmenau.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,702 in Boras versus $3,081 in Ilmenau.

Living in Boras costs roughly 5% less than in Ilmenau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Boras 45% above, Ilmenau 53% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.66 SEK 131

$11.78 €10.16

15.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$92.7 SEK 891

$69.1 €59.6

34.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.35 SEK 99.6

$11.69 €10.09

-11.46%

Cappuccino

$4.56 SEK 43.89

$3.42 €2.95

33.33%

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

$2.14 SEK 20.57

$4.31 €3.72

-50.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 SEK 20.59

$8.04 €6.93

-73.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.48 SEK 72.0

$4.52 €3.89

65.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.10 SEK 68.3

$5.17 €4.46

37.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 SEK 17.05

$1.17 €1.01

51.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 SEK 26.26

$2.12 €1.83

28.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.06 SEK 29.40

$3.47 €2.99

-11.82%

Eggs

$4.84 SEK 46.52

$3.42 €2.95

41.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 SEK 126

$14.90 €12.85

-12.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.15 SEK 117

$10.58 €9.13

14.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.12 SEK 165

$18.51 €15.97

-7.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 SEK 31.53

$3.06 €2.64

7.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 SEK 27.73

$1.48 €1.27

94.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.86 SEK 27.54

$3.69 €3.18

-22.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.69 SEK 35.54

$3.95 €3.41

-6.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 SEK 15.43

$2.19 €1.89

-26.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 SEK 14.44

$1.43 €1.23

4.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.37 SEK 22.79

$1.69 €1.46

40.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 SEK 13.78

$0.89 €0.76

60.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.79 SEK 65.3

$9.71 €8.38

-30.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.44 SEK 81.2

$6.36 €5.49

32.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 SEK 17.33

$1.14 €0.98

57.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 SEK 16.54

$1.55 €1.34

10.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.84 SEK 36.91

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.9 SEK 778

$67.5 €58.2

19.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.34 SEK 51.3

$5.42 €4.68

-1.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 SEK 10.71

$4.29 €3.70

-74.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.24 SEK 416

$47.16 €40.67

-8.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.80 SEK 17.27

$2.08 €1.80

-13.46%

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

$25.6K SEK 246.0K

$34.2K €29.5K

-25.18%

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

$15.6K SEK 150.5K

$40.1K €34.6K

-60.93%

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

$62.1 SEK 597

$683 €589

-90.91%

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

$30.62 SEK 295

$28.86 €24.89

6.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.10 SEK 395

$35.79 €30.87

14.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.93 SEK 346

$51.8 €44.70

-30.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.44 SEK 254

Cinema Ticket

$15.93 SEK 153

$13.87 €11.96

14.85%

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

$163 SEK 1,564

$470 €405

-65.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.4 SEK 494

$95.5 €82.4

-46.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 SEK 505

$33.13 €28.57

58.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 SEK 799

$124 €107

-32.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 SEK 1,002

$114 €98.3

-8.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 €429

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$914 SEK 8,790

$465 €401

96.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$869 €749

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,477 SEK 23.8K

$3,332 €2,874

-25.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.8

3.95

21.52%

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

Last update for Boras: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ilmenau: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ilmenau pays 35% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $93.0 in Boras vs $69.0 in Ilmenau for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $355 vs $321 per month, with Ilmenau 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

Boras vs Ilmenau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boras is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Ilmenau. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

All in, you'll spend $1,996 per month in Boras versus $2,100 in Ilmenau – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Boras runs roughly 20% less than in Ilmenau. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,996 in Boras versus $2,100 in Ilmenau, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Boras but tight or insufficient in Ilmenau. The gap between the two cities makes Boras the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Boras and Ilmenau 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 Boras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Ilmenau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.