🙂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: Gothenburg55% above, Arnhem97% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.76SEK 131
$23.54€20.23
-41.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.9SEK 876
$91.0€78.2
1.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.84SEK 122
$13.81€11.87
-7.02%
Cappuccino
$5.06SEK 48.28
$4.48€3.85
12.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94SEK 28.04
$3.42€2.94
-14.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19SEK 20.87
$2.70€2.32
-18.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.18SEK 68.5
$5.72€4.92
25.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86SEK 74.9
$5.98€5.14
31.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80SEK 17.13
$1.25€1.07
44.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77SEK 26.41
$2.05€1.76
35.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.17SEK 30.19
$3.45€2.97
-8.12%
Eggs
$4.10SEK 39.06
$5.36€4.61
-23.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.10SEK 115
$13.37€11.49
-9.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.67SEK 111
$14.85€12.76
-21.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.76SEK 169
$16.54€14.22
7.38%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23SEK 30.78
$2.82€2.43
14.54%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64SEK 25.17
$2.50€2.15
5.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.22SEK 30.69
$1.87€1.61
72.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.37SEK 41.69
$5.51€4.74
-20.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82SEK 17.35
$2.00€1.72
-9.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68SEK 15.97
$2.56€2.20
-34.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03SEK 19.32
$1.28€1.10
58.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78SEK 16.95
$0.78€0.67
128.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.50SEK 81.0
$14.73€12.66
-42.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.55SEK 139
$7.52€6.46
93.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20SEK 20.95
$1.50€1.29
46.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38SEK 22.68
$2.80€2.40
-15.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.85SEK 36.69
$4.62€3.97
-16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.8SEK 847
$115€99.3
-23.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.45SEK 61.5
$4.16€3.58
55.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73SEK 16.45
$2.37€2.03
-27.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.3SEK 584
$33.82€29.07
81.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90SEK 18.16
$2.35€2.02
-19.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KSEK 323.8K
$43.3K€37.2K
-21.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 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)
$110SEK 1,049
$289€248
-61.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.66SEK 187
$23.38€20.10
-15.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.30SEK 346
$45.35€38.99
-19.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.94SEK 362
$43.15€37.09
-12.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.89SEK 247
$11.72€10.08
120.90%
Cinema Ticket
$19.34SEK 184
$15.03€12.92
28.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$230SEK 2,189
$1,288€1,108
-82.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,554SEK 43.4K
$6,275€5,395
-27.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0SEK 867
$99.2€85.3
-8.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.36SEK 328
$30.25€26.01
13.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0SEK 897
$112€95.9
-15.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135SEK 1,290
$162€139
-16.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,061SEK 10.1K
$1,509€1,297
-29.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$961SEK 9,162
$1,205€1,036
-20.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,849SEK 17.6K
$2,285€1,964
-19.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,440SEK 13.7K
$1,877€1,614
-23.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,496SEK 61.9K
$5,379€4,624
20.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,613SEK 34.5K
$4,357€3,745
-17.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Arnhem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,639SEK 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.
Gothenburg vs other spots: cost of living compared