Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Boden Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Boden

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,120 per month in Gothenburg vs $1,472 in Boden, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,250 per month in Gothenburg vs $2,305 in Boden, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,380 per month in Gothenburg vs $3,139 in Boden, rent included.

Gothenburg costs about 44% more than Boden, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gothenburg and Boden sit above the global median – Gothenburg by 58%, Boden by 10%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.54 SEK 126
$19.46 SEK 181
-30.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.2 SEK 857
$42.66 SEK 397
116.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.41 SEK 96.8
$10.72 SEK 99.7
-2.89%
Cappuccino
$5.01 SEK 46.57
$2.09 SEK 19.42
139.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 SEK 28.92
$1.72 SEK 16.00
80.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 SEK 23.40
$2.16 SEK 20.11
16.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.47 SEK 69.5
$5.37 SEK 49.93
39.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86 SEK 73.1
$7.49 SEK 69.7
4.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 SEK 15.62
$1.41 SEK 13.07
19.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.99 SEK 27.77
$2.73 SEK 25.40
9.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 SEK 30.29
$2.06 SEK 19.14
58.25%
Eggs
$4.45 SEK 41.40
$2.70 SEK 25.15
64.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.52 SEK 107
$5.28 SEK 49.13
118.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.21 SEK 114
$6.35 SEK 59.1
92.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.59 SEK 173
$6.39 SEK 59.5
190.92%
Apples (1kg)
$3.19 SEK 29.64
$2.67 SEK 24.81
19.48%
Banana (1kg)
$2.70 SEK 25.09
$2.60 SEK 24.22
3.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.00 SEK 27.87
$2.57 SEK 23.88
16.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.33 SEK 40.27
$4.48 SEK 41.65
-3.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.67 SEK 15.56
$1.61 SEK 14.93
3.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 SEK 17.54
$1.07 SEK 9.92
76.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.23 SEK 20.76
$1.25 SEK 11.65
78.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 SEK 14.98
$2.68 SEK 24.89
-39.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.02 SEK 74.6
$10.97 SEK 102
-26.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.58 SEK 117
$10.86 SEK 101
15.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 SEK 21.06
$4.09 SEK 38.01
-44.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 SEK 23.22
$2.56 SEK 23.82
-2.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.98 SEK 36.98
$2.63 SEK 24.44
51.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.6 SEK 824
$73.3 SEK 682
20.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.11 SEK 94.0
$5.29 SEK 49.21
91.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 SEK 14.79
$1.63 SEK 15.17
-2.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$62.3 SEK 579
$62.4 SEK 580
-0.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.94 SEK 18.01
$2.35 SEK 21.81
-17.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K SEK 299.4K
$26.2K SEK 243.2K
23.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K SEK 325.2K
$25.9K SEK 240.7K
35.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 SEK 1,295
$112 SEK 1,038
24.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.22 SEK 235
$53.2 SEK 495
-52.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.47 SEK 367
$52.6 SEK 489
-24.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.17 SEK 392
$61.4 SEK 571
-31.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.32 SEK 235
$24.44 SEK 227
3.60%
Cinema Ticket
$17.60 SEK 164
$13.19 SEK 123
33.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$175 SEK 1,623
$78.6 SEK 731
122.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,140 SEK 38.5K
$4,146 SEK 38.6K
-0.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.0 SEK 818
$131 SEK 1,218
-32.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.75 SEK 370
$80.3 SEK 747
-50.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.2 SEK 913
$96.5 SEK 897
1.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156 SEK 1,452
$246 SEK 2,290
-36.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,104 SEK 10.3K
$949 SEK 8,826
16.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$876 SEK 8,150
$259 SEK 2,406
238.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,865 SEK 17.3K
$731 SEK 6,800
155.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,414 SEK 13.1K
$518 SEK 4,814
173.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,531 SEK 60.7K
$4,348 SEK 40.4K
50.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,920 SEK 36.5K
$3,033 SEK 28.2K
29.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,025 SEK 37.4K
$4,109 SEK 38.2K
-2.04%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Boden: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,104 in Gothenburg versus $949 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 2% 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 $92.0 in Gothenburg versus $43.00 in Boden. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 vs $280 – 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 44%, 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 $3,181 per month in Gothenburg and $2,207 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 vs Boden?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,120 in Gothenburg and $1,472 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 21% less in Boden. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Gothenburg or Boden?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Boden, where all-in costs run around $1,472, than in Gothenburg at $2,120. 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.

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