Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Arnhem Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Arnhem

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,128 in Gothenburg versus $2,713 in Arnhem.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,175 in Gothenburg versus $3,945 in Arnhem.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,222 in Gothenburg versus $5,177 in Arnhem.

Living in Gothenburg costs roughly 22% less than in Arnhem, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg 55% above, Arnhem 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.76 SEK 131
$23.54 €20.23
-41.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.9 SEK 876
$91.0 €78.2
1.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.84 SEK 122
$13.81 €11.87
-7.02%
Cappuccino
$5.06 SEK 48.28
$4.48 €3.85
12.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 SEK 28.04
$3.42 €2.94
-14.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 SEK 20.87
$2.70 €2.32
-18.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.18 SEK 68.5
$5.72 €4.92
25.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86 SEK 74.9
$5.98 €5.14
31.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 SEK 17.13
$1.25 €1.07
44.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 SEK 26.41
$2.05 €1.76
35.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.17 SEK 30.19
$3.45 €2.97
-8.12%
Eggs
$4.10 SEK 39.06
$5.36 €4.61
-23.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.10 SEK 115
$13.37 €11.49
-9.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.67 SEK 111
$14.85 €12.76
-21.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 SEK 169
$16.54 €14.22
7.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 SEK 30.78
$2.82 €2.43
14.54%
Banana (1kg)
$2.64 SEK 25.17
$2.50 €2.15
5.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.22 SEK 30.69
$1.87 €1.61
72.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.37 SEK 41.69
$5.51 €4.74
-20.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 SEK 17.35
$2.00 €1.72
-9.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.68 SEK 15.97
$2.56 €2.20
-34.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 SEK 19.32
$1.28 €1.10
58.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 SEK 16.95
$0.78 €0.67
128.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.50 SEK 81.0
$14.73 €12.66
-42.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.55 SEK 139
$7.52 €6.46
93.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 SEK 20.95
$1.50 €1.29
46.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 SEK 22.68
$2.80 €2.40
-15.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.85 SEK 36.69
$4.62 €3.97
-16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.8 SEK 847
$115 €99.3
-23.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.45 SEK 61.5
$4.16 €3.58
55.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.73 SEK 16.45
$2.37 €2.03
-27.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.3 SEK 584
$33.82 €29.07
81.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 SEK 18.16
$2.35 €2.02
-19.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K SEK 323.8K
$43.3K €37.2K
-21.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K SEK 327.6K
$40.8K €35.1K
-15.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 SEK 1,049
$289 €248
-61.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.66 SEK 187
$23.38 €20.10
-15.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.30 SEK 346
$45.35 €38.99
-19.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 SEK 362
$43.15 €37.09
-12.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.89 SEK 247
$11.72 €10.08
120.90%
Cinema Ticket
$19.34 SEK 184
$15.03 €12.92
28.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$230 SEK 2,189
$1,288 €1,108
-82.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,554 SEK 43.4K
$6,275 €5,395
-27.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0 SEK 867
$99.2 €85.3
-8.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.36 SEK 328
$30.25 €26.01
13.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 SEK 897
$112 €95.9
-15.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 SEK 1,290
$162 €139
-16.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,061 SEK 10.1K
$1,509 €1,297
-29.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$961 SEK 9,162
$1,205 €1,036
-20.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,849 SEK 17.6K
$2,285 €1,964
-19.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,440 SEK 13.7K
$1,877 €1,614
-23.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,496 SEK 61.9K
$5,379 €4,624
20.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,613 SEK 34.5K
$4,357 €3,745
-17.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,639 SEK 34.7K
$3,764 €3,236
-3.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.06
3.95
-22.53%

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

Last update for Gothenburg: August 31, 2026

Last update for Arnhem: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,061 in Gothenburg and $1,509 in Arnhem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arnhem pays 3% 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: $92.0 in Gothenburg vs $91.0 in Arnhem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 vs $350 per month, with Arnhem 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
Gothenburg vs Arnhem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Gothenburg and in Arnhem?
Gothenburg and Arnhem differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($2,128 vs $2,713 including rent). Gothenburg is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Arnhem. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Gothenburg and in Arnhem?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,061 in Gothenburg versus $1,509 in Arnhem. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Arnhem pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Gothenburg – a meal for two runs $92.0 versus $91.0 in Arnhem. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,128 in Gothenburg versus $2,713 in Arnhem, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gothenburg but tight or insufficient in Arnhem. The gap between the two cities makes Gothenburg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Gothenburg and Arnhem?
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.
Is Gothenburg or Arnhem safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Gothenburg and Arnhem are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Gothenburg or Arnhem?
Expats usually find Gothenburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Arnhem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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