😐A single person spends $2,068 per month in Gothenburg vs $1,485 in Boden, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,219 per month in Gothenburg vs $2,309 in Boden, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,369 per month in Gothenburg vs $3,133 in Boden, rent included.
😐Gothenburg costs about 39% more than Boden, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Gothenburg and Boden sit above the global median – Gothenburg by 55%, Boden by 12%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.85SEK 132
$19.89SEK 189
-30.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.8SEK 882
$42.81SEK 407
116.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.57SEK 100
$10.46SEK 99.4
1.05%
Cappuccino
$4.95SEK 47.04
$2.07SEK 19.64
139.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04SEK 28.90
$1.70SEK 16.18
78.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66SEK 25.25
$2.09SEK 19.86
27.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.42SEK 70.5
$5.12SEK 48.65
44.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.01SEK 76.1
$7.28SEK 69.1
10.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68SEK 15.96
$1.44SEK 13.69
16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.89SEK 27.43
$2.89SEK 27.49
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.33SEK 31.65
$2.06SEK 19.56
61.65%
Eggs
$4.49SEK 42.68
$2.58SEK 24.51
74.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.70SEK 111
$5.33SEK 50.7
119.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.25SEK 116
$6.49SEK 61.7
88.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.65SEK 177
$6.48SEK 61.6
187.81%
Apples(1kg)
$3.06SEK 29.10
$2.67SEK 25.37
14.61%
Banana(1kg)
$2.73SEK 25.91
$2.70SEK 25.66
1.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.99SEK 28.45
$2.68SEK 25.49
11.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.16SEK 39.48
$4.56SEK 43.30
-8.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74SEK 16.55
$1.60SEK 15.24
8.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94SEK 18.42
$1.02SEK 9.71
90.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.23SEK 21.20
$1.28SEK 12.16
74.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60SEK 15.18
$2.70SEK 25.63
-40.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.91SEK 75.1
$10.82SEK 103
-26.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.41SEK 137
$10.38SEK 98.6
38.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27SEK 21.57
$4.08SEK 38.76
-44.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53SEK 24.02
$2.71SEK 25.79
-6.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.87SEK 36.79
$2.67SEK 25.37
44.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.6SEK 851
$73.1SEK 695
22.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.31SEK 98.0
$5.19SEK 49.28
98.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60SEK 15.23
$1.67SEK 15.84
-4.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.1SEK 590
$63.2SEK 601
-1.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93SEK 18.34
$2.29SEK 21.79
-15.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KSEK 305.9K
$26.1KSEK 247.9K
23.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KSEK 332.3K
$25.9KSEK 245.8K
35.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$136SEK 1,290
$109SEK 1,039
24.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.35SEK 241
$53.6SEK 509
-52.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.47SEK 375
$53.8SEK 511
-26.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.88SEK 388
$61.0SEK 580
-33.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.69SEK 235
$24.78SEK 235
-0.36%
Cinema Ticket
$18.13SEK 172
$13.32SEK 127
36.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$176SEK 1,676
$80.5SEK 765
119.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,094SEK 38.9K
$4,061SEK 38.6K
0.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.0SEK 855
$130SEK 1,232
-30.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.38SEK 374
$78.7SEK 748
-49.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.3SEK 924
$98.3SEK 934
-1.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155SEK 1,477
$247SEK 2,342
-36.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,136SEK 10.8K
$952SEK 9,039
19.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$859SEK 8,162
$262SEK 2,491
227.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,855SEK 17.6K
$731SEK 6,941
153.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,440SEK 13.7K
$521SEK 4,950
176.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,400SEK 60.8K
$4,645SEK 44.1K
37.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,577SEK 34.0K
$3,135SEK 29.8K
14.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,689SEK 35.0K
$3,964SEK 37.7K
-6.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
4
8.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gothenburg: July 27, 2026
Last update for Boden: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,136 in Gothenburg versus $952 in Boden. 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 7% higher in Boden, 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 $93.0 in Gothenburg versus $43.00 in Boden. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $376 vs $284 – making Boden the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Boden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boden cheaper than Gothenburg?
Yes – Gothenburg is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,102 per month in Gothenburg and $2,228 in Boden. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Boden, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Gothenburg and in Boden?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,068 in Gothenburg and $1,485 in Boden. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 23% less in Boden. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Gothenburg or in Boden?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Boden, where all-in costs run around $1,485, than in Gothenburg at $2,068. In Boden it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gothenburg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Gothenburg or Boden more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Boden – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Gothenburg or Boden?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Boden. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gothenburg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Gothenburg vs other spots: cost of living compared