🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,063 in Gothenburg versus $2,259 in Arnhem.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,240 in Gothenburg versus $3,391 in Arnhem.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,417 in Gothenburg versus $4,523 in Arnhem.
🌍Living in Gothenburg costs roughly 9% less than in Arnhem, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg54% above, Arnhem69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.74SEK 133
$18.42€16.13
-25.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.2SEK 883
$71.0€62.2
28.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.42SEK 101
$13.30€11.65
-21.65%
Cappuccino
$4.86SEK 47.02
$4.24€3.72
14.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08SEK 29.79
$3.18€2.78
-3.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56SEK 24.81
$2.50€2.19
2.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.43SEK 71.9
$6.38€5.59
16.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72SEK 74.7
$5.23€4.58
47.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76SEK 17.02
$1.23€1.07
43.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87SEK 27.83
$2.39€2.09
20.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.34SEK 32.35
$3.26€2.85
2.45%
Eggs
$4.63SEK 44.87
$4.91€4.30
-5.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.67SEK 113
$13.69€11.99
-14.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.41SEK 120
$16.68€14.61
-25.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.65SEK 181
$16.82€14.73
10.88%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07SEK 29.77
$2.38€2.09
28.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64SEK 25.60
$2.62€2.30
0.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.93SEK 28.35
$1.89€1.66
55.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.31SEK 41.74
$4.14€3.62
4.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76SEK 16.99
$2.10€1.84
-16.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87SEK 18.13
$2.17€1.90
-13.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22SEK 21.45
$1.28€1.12
73.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59SEK 15.40
$0.72€0.63
120.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.94SEK 76.9
$14.28€12.51
-44.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.36SEK 139
$6.95€6.09
106.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20SEK 21.29
$1.39€1.22
58.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53SEK 24.48
$2.75€2.41
-8.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.92SEK 38.00
$4.31€3.77
-9.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.9SEK 880
$114€99.5
-20.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.16SEK 98.4
$3.95€3.46
157.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67SEK 16.12
$2.64€2.31
-36.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.6SEK 596
$27.46€24.05
124.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96SEK 18.98
$2.22€1.95
-11.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KSEK 311.6K
$37.4K€32.8K
-13.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6KSEK 344.3K
$38.7K€33.9K
-8.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$140SEK 1,358
$264€231
-46.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.00SEK 242
$30.28€26.52
-17.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.56SEK 373
$53.9€47.20
-28.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.38SEK 401
$42.52€37.24
-2.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.81SEK 240
$7.63€6.69
225.16%
Cinema Ticket
$18.04SEK 175
$15.19€13.30
18.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$178SEK 1,722
$1,842€1,613
-90.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,177SEK 40.4K
$6,253€5,477
-33.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5SEK 867
$93.2€81.6
-3.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39SEK 381
$17.32€15.17
127.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.4SEK 923
$85.8€75.1
11.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153SEK 1,477
$91.6€80.2
66.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,096SEK 10.6K
$1,158€1,014
-5.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$860SEK 8,328
$878€769
-1.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,875SEK 18.2K
$2,063€1,807
-9.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,404SEK 13.6K
$1,635€1,432
-14.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,493SEK 62.9K
$5,406€4,735
20.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,504SEK 33.9K
$4,261€3,732
-17.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,590SEK 34.8K
$3,726€3,263
-3.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
3.25
33.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gothenburg: July 12, 2026
Last update for Arnhem: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,096 in Gothenburg and $1,158 in Arnhem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Arnhem pays 4% 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: $91.0 in Gothenburg vs $71.0 in Arnhem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 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 9% in total monthly costs ($2,063 vs $2,259 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 4% 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: $1,096 in Gothenburg versus $1,158 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 8% 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 $91.0 versus $71.0 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 $2,063 in Gothenburg versus $2,259 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 9% less than in Arnhem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Gothenburg vs other spots: cost of living compared