Cost of Living Comparison Between Detroit, MI and Gothenburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Detroit, MI and Gothenburg

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,390 per month in Detroit, MI vs $2,128 in Gothenburg, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,532 per month in Detroit, MI vs $3,175 in Gothenburg, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,673 per month in Detroit, MI vs $4,222 in Gothenburg, rent included.

Detroit, MI costs about 12% more than Gothenburg, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Detroit, MI and Gothenburg sit above the global median – Detroit, MI by 74%, Gothenburg by 55%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.93 $17.93

$13.76 SEK 132

30.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.5 $62.5

$91.9 SEK 879

-32.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.02 $13.02

$12.84 SEK 123

1.40%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$5.06 SEK 48.43

7.51%

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

$3.16 $3.16

$2.94 SEK 28.13

7.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.19 SEK 20.93

-10.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.79 $7.79

$7.18 SEK 68.7

8.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.07 $9.07

$7.86 SEK 75.2

15.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.80 SEK 17.18

-42.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.77 SEK 26.50

25.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.56 $5.56

$3.17 SEK 30.28

75.39%

Eggs

$3.85 $3.85

$4.10 SEK 39.18

-6.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.83 $13.83

$12.10 SEK 116

14.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.38 $11.38

$11.67 SEK 112

-2.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.60 $16.60

$17.76 SEK 170

-6.53%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.23 SEK 30.88

53.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.64 SEK 25.25

-41.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$3.22 SEK 30.78

44.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.37 SEK 41.82

10.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.82 SEK 17.40

41.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.68 SEK 16.02

80.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.03 SEK 19.38

16.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.78 SEK 17.01

38.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.35 $10.35

$8.50 SEK 81.3

21.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.31 $15.31

$14.55 SEK 139

5.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.20 SEK 21.01

45.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.38 SEK 22.75

47.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.85 SEK 36.80

-47.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$122 $122

$88.8 SEK 849

37.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$6.45 SEK 61.7

-54.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.73 SEK 16.50

-9.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.04 $24.04

$61.3 SEK 586

-60.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.90 SEK 18.22

-44.21%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$34.0K SEK 324.8K

4.14%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$34.4K SEK 328.6K

-22.19%

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

$217 $217

$110 SEK 1,052

97.00%

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

$61.0 $61.0

$19.66 SEK 188

210.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.2 $68.2

$36.30 SEK 347

87.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.32 $33.32

$37.94 SEK 363

-12.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.42 $17.42

$25.89 SEK 248

-32.72%

Cinema Ticket

$11.92 $11.92

$19.34 SEK 185

-38.37%

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

$1,355 $1,355

$230 SEK 2,196

490.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.7K $32.7K

$4,554 SEK 43.6K

617.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 $58.5

$91.0 SEK 870

-35.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.12 $42.12

$34.36 SEK 329

22.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 $95.7

$94.0 SEK 899

1.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$135 SEK 1,294

-12.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,545 $1,545

$1,061 SEK 10.2K

45.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$925 $925

$961 SEK 9,191

-3.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,848 $2,848

$1,849 SEK 17.7K

53.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 $1,677

$1,440 SEK 13.8K

16.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$6,496 SEK 62.1K

-37.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,277 $1,277

$3,613 SEK 34.6K

-64.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,422 $3,422

$3,639 SEK 34.8K

-5.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.94

3.06

94.12%

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

Last update for Detroit, MI: September 1, 2026

Last update for Gothenburg: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,545 in Detroit, MI versus $1,061 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 6% higher in Gothenburg, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Detroit, MI versus $92.0 in Gothenburg. Groceries tell a different story – $414 in Detroit, MI vs $372 in Gothenburg – so Gothenburg wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Detroit, MI vs Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Detroit, MI costs about 12% more than Gothenburg, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,585 per month in Detroit, MI and $3,192 in Gothenburg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Detroit, MI and $92.0 in Gothenburg. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,390 in Detroit, MI and $2,128 in Gothenburg. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Gothenburg, where all-in costs run around $2,128, than in Detroit, MI at $2,390. In Gothenburg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Detroit, MI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gothenburg costs $2,128 versus $2,390 in Detroit, MI. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Gothenburg. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Detroit, MI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.