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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,068 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
$13.85 SEK 132
$19.89 SEK 189
-30.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.8 SEK 882
$42.81 SEK 407
116.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.57 SEK 100
$10.46 SEK 99.4
1.05%
Cappuccino
$4.95 SEK 47.04
$2.07 SEK 19.64
139.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 SEK 28.90
$1.70 SEK 16.18
78.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 SEK 25.25
$2.09 SEK 19.86
27.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.42 SEK 70.5
$5.12 SEK 48.65
44.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.01 SEK 76.1
$7.28 SEK 69.1
10.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 SEK 15.96
$1.44 SEK 13.69
16.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 SEK 27.43
$2.89 SEK 27.49
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.33 SEK 31.65
$2.06 SEK 19.56
61.65%
Eggs
$4.49 SEK 42.68
$2.58 SEK 24.51
74.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.70 SEK 111
$5.33 SEK 50.7
119.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.25 SEK 116
$6.49 SEK 61.7
88.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.65 SEK 177
$6.48 SEK 61.6
187.81%
Apples (1kg)
$3.06 SEK 29.10
$2.67 SEK 25.37
14.61%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 SEK 25.91
$2.70 SEK 25.66
1.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 SEK 28.45
$2.68 SEK 25.49
11.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.16 SEK 39.48
$4.56 SEK 43.30
-8.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.74 SEK 16.55
$1.60 SEK 15.24
8.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 SEK 18.42
$1.02 SEK 9.71
90.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.23 SEK 21.20
$1.28 SEK 12.16
74.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 SEK 15.18
$2.70 SEK 25.63
-40.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.91 SEK 75.1
$10.82 SEK 103
-26.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.41 SEK 137
$10.38 SEK 98.6
38.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 SEK 21.57
$4.08 SEK 38.76
-44.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 SEK 24.02
$2.71 SEK 25.79
-6.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.87 SEK 36.79
$2.67 SEK 25.37
44.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.6 SEK 851
$73.1 SEK 695
22.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.31 SEK 98.0
$5.19 SEK 49.28
98.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 SEK 15.23
$1.67 SEK 15.84
-4.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$62.1 SEK 590
$63.2 SEK 601
-1.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 SEK 18.34
$2.29 SEK 21.79
-15.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K SEK 305.9K
$26.1K SEK 247.9K
23.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K SEK 332.3K
$25.9K SEK 245.8K
35.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 SEK 1,290
$109 SEK 1,039
24.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.35 SEK 241
$53.6 SEK 509
-52.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.47 SEK 375
$53.8 SEK 511
-26.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.88 SEK 388
$61.0 SEK 580
-33.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.69 SEK 235
$24.78 SEK 235
-0.36%
Cinema Ticket
$18.13 SEK 172
$13.32 SEK 127
36.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$176 SEK 1,676
$80.5 SEK 765
119.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,094 SEK 38.9K
$4,061 SEK 38.6K
0.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.0 SEK 855
$130 SEK 1,232
-30.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.38 SEK 374
$78.7 SEK 748
-49.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 SEK 924
$98.3 SEK 934
-1.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 SEK 1,477
$247 SEK 2,342
-36.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,136 SEK 10.8K
$952 SEK 9,039
19.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$859 SEK 8,162
$262 SEK 2,491
227.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,855 SEK 17.6K
$731 SEK 6,941
153.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,440 SEK 13.7K
$521 SEK 4,950
176.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,400 SEK 60.8K
$4,645 SEK 44.1K
37.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,577 SEK 34.0K
$3,135 SEK 29.8K
14.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Boden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,689 SEK 35.0K
$3,964 SEK 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.

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