Cost of Living Comparison Between Cedar Rapids, IA and Gothenburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Cedar Rapids, IA and Gothenburg

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,049 per month in Cedar Rapids, IA vs $2,068 in Gothenburg, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,020 per month in Cedar Rapids, IA vs $3,219 in Gothenburg, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,990 per month in Cedar Rapids, IA vs $4,369 in Gothenburg, rent included.

Cedar Rapids, IA is about 1% cheaper than Gothenburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Cedar Rapids, IA and Gothenburg sit above the global median – Cedar Rapids, IA by 54%, Gothenburg by 55%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.14 $15.14

$13.85 SEK 134

9.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.4 $71.4

$92.8 SEK 895

-23.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.62 $10.62

$10.57 SEK 102

0.47%

Cappuccino

$5.26 $5.26

$4.95 SEK 47.74

6.26%

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

$1.93 $1.93

$3.04 SEK 29.33

-36.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.66 SEK 25.62

-44.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.40 $4.40

$7.42 SEK 71.6

-40.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.09 $6.09

$8.01 SEK 77.2

-23.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.68 SEK 16.20

-48.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.89 SEK 27.83

1.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$3.33 SEK 32.12

37.54%

Eggs

$3.23 $3.23

$4.49 SEK 43.31

-28.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.66 $13.66

$11.70 SEK 113

16.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.98 $10.98

$12.25 SEK 118

-10.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 $15.86

$18.65 SEK 180

-14.96%

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.06 SEK 29.53

43.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$2.73 SEK 26.29

-57.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$2.99 SEK 28.87

79.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$4.16 SEK 40.06

14.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.74 SEK 16.80

42.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.94 SEK 18.69

20.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.23 SEK 21.51

-11.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.60 SEK 15.40

24.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.29 $9.29

$7.91 SEK 76.2

17.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.90 $10.90

$14.41 SEK 139

-24.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.27 SEK 21.89

-4.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.53 SEK 24.38

35.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.78 $1.78

$3.87 SEK 37.33

-54.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.89 $29.89

$89.6 SEK 864

-66.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 $3.55

$10.31 SEK 99.4

-65.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.60 SEK 15.45

18.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.85 $41.85

$62.1 SEK 599

-32.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.93 SEK 18.61

-56.48%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$32.2K SEK 310.5K

-20.88%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$35.0K SEK 337.3K

-27.98%

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

$206 $206

$136 SEK 1,309

51.39%

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

$50.5 $50.5

$25.35 SEK 244

99.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.2 $72.2

$39.47 SEK 381

82.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$99.2 $99.2

$40.88 SEK 394

142.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.69 SEK 238

Cinema Ticket

$12.85 $12.85

$18.13 SEK 175

-29.12%

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

$975 $975

$176 SEK 1,701

452.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$4,094 SEK 39.5K

488.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.3 $63.3

$90.0 SEK 868

-29.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.02 $48.02

$39.38 SEK 380

21.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$97.3 SEK 938

2.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$155 SEK 1,499

-13.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,100 $1,100

$1,136 SEK 11.0K

-3.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$734 $734

$859 SEK 8,283

-14.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,780 $1,780

$1,855 SEK 17.9K

-4.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,204 $1,204

$1,440 SEK 13.9K

-16.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,559 $1,559

$6,400 SEK 61.7K

-75.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,527 $1,527

$3,577 SEK 34.5K

-57.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,627 $3,627

$3,689 SEK 35.6K

-1.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

4.33

49.88%

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

Last update for Cedar Rapids, IA: July 27, 2026

Last update for Gothenburg: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,100 in Cedar Rapids, IA versus $1,136 in Gothenburg. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Gothenburg, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Cedar Rapids, IA versus $93.0 in Gothenburg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $376 – making Cedar Rapids, IA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Cedar Rapids, IA vs Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Gothenburg is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,073 per month in Cedar Rapids, IA and $3,102 in Gothenburg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cedar Rapids, IA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Gothenburg, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $93.0 in Gothenburg. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Cedar Rapids, IA, where all-in costs run around $2,049, than in Gothenburg at $2,068. In Cedar Rapids, IA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gothenburg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cedar Rapids, IA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Cedar Rapids, IA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gothenburg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.