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 $2,544 per month in Detroit, MI vs $2,113 in Gothenburg, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,703 per month in Detroit, MI vs $3,197 in Gothenburg, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,862 per month in Detroit, MI vs $4,282 in Gothenburg, rent included.

Detroit, MI costs about 20% more than Gothenburg, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Detroit, MI and Gothenburg sit above the global median – Detroit, MI by 90%, Gothenburg by 58%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.54 $17.54

$13.60 SEK 125

28.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.3 $68.3

$92.0 SEK 846

-25.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$10.52 SEK 96.8

-5.42%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$4.96 SEK 45.68

1.21%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$3.07 SEK 28.25

-18.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.63 SEK 24.19

-30.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.88 $5.88

$7.58 SEK 69.8

-22.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 $7.13

$7.97 SEK 73.3

-10.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.71 SEK 15.73

-50.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.01 SEK 27.66

4.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$3.32 SEK 30.54

73.80%

Eggs

$3.24 $3.24

$4.62 SEK 42.53

-29.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.13 $12.13

$11.58 SEK 107

4.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.77 $11.77

$12.56 SEK 116

-6.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.93 $20.93

$18.93 SEK 174

10.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.18 SEK 29.26

43.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 $1.17

$2.68 SEK 24.66

-56.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.74 $5.74

$2.94 SEK 27.04

95.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$4.21 SEK 38.75

49.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.72 SEK 15.83

18.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.93 SEK 17.73

27.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.27 SEK 20.90

11.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.54 SEK 14.19

33.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.17 $10.17

$7.85 SEK 72.2

29.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$12.53 SEK 115

22.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.25 SEK 20.70

-10.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.58 SEK 23.78

-5.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$3.96 SEK 36.44

-48.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.4 $66.4

$88.6 SEK 815

-25.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 $2.45

$10.46 SEK 96.3

-76.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.67 SEK 15.35

-15.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$48.43 $48.43

$63.0 SEK 580

-23.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.89 SEK 17.43

-53.44%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$33.0K SEK 303.4K

5.51%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$35.0K SEK 321.9K

-29.36%

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

$252 $252

$141 SEK 1,294

79.14%

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

$55.4 $55.4

$25.24 SEK 232

119.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.4 $52.4

$38.61 SEK 355

35.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.51 $42.51

$40.96 SEK 377

3.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.95 $24.95

$24.80 SEK 228

0.60%

Cinema Ticket

$10.97 $10.97

$17.54 SEK 161

-37.46%

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

$1,305 $1,305

$175 SEK 1,614

644.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K $17.0K

$4,120 SEK 37.9K

312.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 $55.2

$87.5 SEK 805

-36.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.88 $30.88

$40.39 SEK 372

-23.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.9 $96.9

$97.5 SEK 897

-0.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$154 SEK 1,414

-29.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,402 $1,402

$1,104 SEK 10.2K

27.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,166 $1,166

$870 SEK 8,005

34.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,497 $2,497

$1,885 SEK 17.3K

32.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,913 $1,913

$1,403 SEK 12.9K

36.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,904 $3,904

$6,641 SEK 61.1K

-41.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,294 $1,294

$3,944 SEK 36.3K

-67.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,321 $3,321

$3,970 SEK 36.5K

-16.34%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Gothenburg: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,402 in Detroit, MI versus $1,104 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 20% 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 $68 in Detroit, MI versus $92 in Gothenburg. Groceries tell a different story – $410 in Detroit, MI vs $376 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 20% 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 $3,816 per month in Detroit, MI and $3,169 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 $68.0 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 $2,544 in Detroit, MI and $2,113 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 $2,113, than in Detroit, MI at $2,544. 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 $2,113 versus $2,544 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.