Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Boras Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Boras

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,063 in Gothenburg versus $1,958 in Boras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,240 in Gothenburg versus $2,789 in Boras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,417 in Gothenburg versus $3,619 in Boras.

Living in Gothenburg is roughly 5% more expensive than in Boras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg 54% above, Boras 47% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.74 SEK 133
$12.83 SEK 124
7.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.2 SEK 883
$72.6 SEK 703
25.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.42 SEK 101
$10.63 SEK 103
-1.98%
Cappuccino
$4.86 SEK 47.02
$4.37 SEK 42.27
11.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 SEK 29.79
$2.22 SEK 21.53
38.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 SEK 24.81
$2.07 SEK 20.02
23.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.43 SEK 71.9
$8.15 SEK 78.9
-8.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72 SEK 74.7
$7.42 SEK 71.9
4.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 SEK 17.02
$1.67 SEK 16.20
5.39%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 SEK 27.83
$2.15 SEK 20.84
33.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.34 SEK 32.35
$3.07 SEK 29.68
8.79%
Eggs
$4.63 SEK 44.87
$4.48 SEK 43.37
3.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.67 SEK 113
$13.07 SEK 127
-10.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.41 SEK 120
$11.49 SEK 111
8.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.65 SEK 181
$16.85 SEK 163
10.68%
Apples (1kg)
$3.07 SEK 29.77
$2.68 SEK 25.92
14.55%
Banana (1kg)
$2.64 SEK 25.60
$2.77 SEK 26.82
-4.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.93 SEK 28.35
$2.82 SEK 27.29
3.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.31 SEK 41.74
$3.77 SEK 36.47
14.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 SEK 16.99
$1.54 SEK 14.92
14.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 SEK 18.13
$1.62 SEK 15.64
15.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 SEK 21.45
$1.41 SEK 13.68
57.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 SEK 15.40
$1.50 SEK 14.51
6.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.94 SEK 76.9
$8.23 SEK 79.7
-3.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.36 SEK 139
$9.40 SEK 91.0
52.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 SEK 21.29
$2.03 SEK 19.66
8.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 SEK 24.48
$1.73 SEK 16.74
46.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.92 SEK 38.00
$3.74 SEK 36.16
4.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.9 SEK 880
$86.2 SEK 834
5.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.16 SEK 98.4
$6.46 SEK 62.6
57.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 SEK 16.12
$1.87 SEK 18.15
-10.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.6 SEK 596
$62.5 SEK 605
-1.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.96 SEK 18.98
$1.96 SEK 19.02
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K SEK 311.6K
$26.2K SEK 253.5K
22.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6K SEK 344.3K
$25.4K SEK 245.8K
40.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 SEK 1,358
$74.9 SEK 725
87.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.00 SEK 242
$28.64 SEK 277
-12.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.56 SEK 373
$27.88 SEK 270
38.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.38 SEK 401
$34.39 SEK 333
20.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.81 SEK 240
$23.82 SEK 231
4.16%
Cinema Ticket
$18.04 SEK 175
$15.85 SEK 153
13.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$178 SEK 1,722
$157 SEK 1,519
13.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,177 SEK 40.4K
$4,162 SEK 40.3K
0.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 SEK 867
$81.2 SEK 787
10.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39 SEK 381
$39.45 SEK 382
-0.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 SEK 923
$94.5 SEK 915
0.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 SEK 1,477
$108 SEK 1,045
41.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,096 SEK 10.6K
$849 SEK 8,223
29.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$860 SEK 8,328
$927 SEK 8,975
-7.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,875 SEK 18.2K
$1,384 SEK 13.4K
35.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,404 SEK 13.6K
$1,064 SEK 10.3K
31.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,493 SEK 62.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,504 SEK 33.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,590 SEK 34.8K
$2,480 SEK 24.0K
44.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.33
4.8
-9.79%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Gothenburg: July 12, 2026

Last update for Boras: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,096 in Gothenburg and $849 in Boras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gothenburg pays 45% 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 $73.0 in Boras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $340 per month, with Boras 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 Boras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boras cheaper than Gothenburg?
Boras is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Gothenburg or Boras?
Average pay runs 45% higher in Gothenburg, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Gothenburg and Boras?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,096 in Gothenburg versus $849 in Boras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Gothenburg and in Boras?
All in, you'll spend $2,063 per month in Gothenburg versus $1,958 in Boras – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Boras runs roughly 5% less than in Gothenburg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Gothenburg or in Boras?
At $1,958 in Boras versus $2,063 in Gothenburg, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Boras but tight or insufficient in Gothenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Boras the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Gothenburg or Boras more family-friendly?
For families, Boras is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Gothenburg, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Gothenburg or Boras?
Safety-wise, Gothenburg and Boras are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Boras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Gothenburg vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities