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 $2,455 per month in Detroit, MI vs $2,058 in Gothenburg, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,604 per month in Detroit, MI vs $3,193 in Gothenburg, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,753 per month in Detroit, MI vs $4,328 in Gothenburg, rent included.

Detroit, MI costs about 19% more than Gothenburg, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Detroit, MI and Gothenburg sit above the global median – Detroit, MI by 83%, Gothenburg by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.64 $17.64

$13.74 SEK 130

28.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.5 $66.5

$93.9 SEK 888

-29.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.06 $10.06

$10.34 SEK 97.8

-2.71%

Cappuccino

$5.01 $5.01

$4.73 SEK 44.80

5.92%

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

$2.58 $2.58

$2.97 SEK 28.09

-13.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.53 SEK 23.97

-25.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

$7.26 SEK 68.7

-16.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.05 $7.05

$7.72 SEK 73.0

-8.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.68 SEK 15.89

-47.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.85 SEK 26.99

16.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$3.32 SEK 31.38

68.07%

Eggs

$3.28 $3.28

$4.65 SEK 44.01

-29.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$11.80 SEK 112

3.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.07 $12.07

$12.61 SEK 119

-4.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$19.02 SEK 180

8.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$3.10 SEK 29.33

49.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$2.74 SEK 25.90

-56.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$2.91 SEK 27.49

97.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 $6.07

$4.18 SEK 39.50

45.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.66 SEK 15.72

23.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.85 SEK 17.50

32.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.27 SEK 21.52

14.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.55 SEK 14.66

32.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.82 $9.82

$7.82 SEK 74.0

25.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.79 $15.79

$15.32 SEK 145

3.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.26 SEK 21.37

-6.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.61 SEK 24.67

-4.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$3.80 SEK 35.95

-47.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.1 $67.1

$88.6 SEK 838

-24.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.48 $2.48

$10.11 SEK 95.6

-75.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.66 SEK 15.70

-16.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$48.91 $48.91

$61.7 SEK 584

-20.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.89 SEK 17.89

-53.97%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$32.0K SEK 303.1K

10.15%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$34.5K SEK 326.1K

-28.16%

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

$248 $248

$138 SEK 1,310

79.08%

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

$55.7 $55.7

$24.95 SEK 236

123.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.8 $52.8

$38.25 SEK 362

38.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.33 $42.33

$41.78 SEK 395

1.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.58 $25.58

$25.26 SEK 239

1.27%

Cinema Ticket

$10.91 $10.91

$17.98 SEK 170

-39.32%

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

$1,310 $1,310

$175 SEK 1,660

646.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.7K $16.7K

$4,215 SEK 39.9K

295.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 $54.2

$87.6 SEK 829

-38.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.19 $31.19

$40.28 SEK 381

-22.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.7 $97.7

$96.9 SEK 917

0.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$156 SEK 1,479

-30.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,400 $1,400

$1,125 SEK 10.6K

24.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,179 $1,179

$873 SEK 8,263

35.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,589 $2,589

$1,917 SEK 18.1K

35.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,947 $1,947

$1,434 SEK 13.6K

35.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,880 $3,880

$6,696 SEK 63.4K

-42.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,300 $1,300

$3,764 SEK 35.6K

-65.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,353 $3,353

$3,953 SEK 37.4K

-15.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

4.33

48.27%

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

Last update for Detroit, MI: June 1, 2026

Last update for Gothenburg: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,400 in Detroit, MI versus $1,125 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 18% 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 $66.0 in Detroit, MI versus $94.0 in Gothenburg. Groceries tell a different story – $413 in Detroit, MI vs $381 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 19% 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 $3,683 per month in Detroit, MI and $3,087 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 $66.0 in Detroit, MI and $94.0 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 $2,455 in Detroit, MI and $2,058 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 $2,058, than in Detroit, MI at $2,455. 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 $2,058 versus $2,455 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.