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: $2,058 in Gothenburg versus $1,947 in Boras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,193 in Gothenburg versus $2,766 in Boras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,328 in Gothenburg versus $3,586 in Boras.

Living in Gothenburg is roughly 6% more expensive than Boras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg 54% above, Boras 45% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.74 SEK 128
$12.77 SEK 119
7.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.9 SEK 876
$70.4 SEK 656
33.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.34 SEK 96.5
$10.65 SEK 99.4
-2.91%
Cappuccino
$4.73 SEK 44.18
$4.56 SEK 42.56
3.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 SEK 27.70
$2.24 SEK 20.89
32.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 SEK 23.64
$2.14 SEK 20.00
18.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.26 SEK 67.8
$7.94 SEK 74.1
-8.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72 SEK 72.0
$7.27 SEK 67.9
6.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 SEK 15.67
$1.67 SEK 15.57
0.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.85 SEK 26.62
$2.23 SEK 20.82
27.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.32 SEK 30.95
$3.04 SEK 28.33
9.21%
Eggs
$4.65 SEK 43.41
$4.50 SEK 42.00
3.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.80 SEK 110
$13.10 SEK 122
-9.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.61 SEK 118
$11.63 SEK 109
8.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.02 SEK 178
$17.39 SEK 162
9.37%
Apples (1kg)
$3.10 SEK 28.92
$2.69 SEK 25.13
15.24%
Banana (1kg)
$2.74 SEK 25.54
$2.87 SEK 26.78
-4.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 SEK 27.11
$2.81 SEK 26.25
3.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.18 SEK 38.96
$3.59 SEK 33.45
16.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 SEK 15.50
$1.61 SEK 15.06
3.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 SEK 17.25
$1.60 SEK 14.94
15.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 SEK 21.22
$1.42 SEK 13.25
59.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 SEK 14.46
$1.46 SEK 13.67
6.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.82 SEK 73.0
$8.24 SEK 76.9
-5.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.32 SEK 143
$9.83 SEK 91.8
55.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 SEK 21.08
$1.94 SEK 18.13
16.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 SEK 24.32
$1.71 SEK 15.99
52.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.80 SEK 35.45
$3.73 SEK 34.82
1.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.6 SEK 827
$86.6 SEK 808
2.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.11 SEK 94.3
$6.18 SEK 57.7
63.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 SEK 15.48
$1.89 SEK 17.68
-12.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.7 SEK 576
$63.9 SEK 596
-3.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 SEK 17.64
$1.90 SEK 17.76
-0.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K SEK 298.9K
$26.3K SEK 245.5K
21.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K SEK 321.6K
$25.0K SEK 233.5K
37.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 SEK 1,292
$75.9 SEK 709
82.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.95 SEK 233
$28.10 SEK 262
-11.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.25 SEK 357
$27.50 SEK 257
39.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.78 SEK 390
$34.14 SEK 319
22.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.26 SEK 236
$23.96 SEK 224
5.43%
Cinema Ticket
$17.98 SEK 168
$15.89 SEK 148
13.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$175 SEK 1,637
$160 SEK 1,496
9.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,215 SEK 39.3K
$4,124 SEK 38.5K
2.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.6 SEK 817
$81.5 SEK 761
7.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.28 SEK 376
$40.01 SEK 373
0.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.9 SEK 904
$95.3 SEK 889
1.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156 SEK 1,458
$110 SEK 1,027
41.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 SEK 10.5K
$846 SEK 7,891
33.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$873 SEK 8,148
$902 SEK 8,419
-3.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,917 SEK 17.9K
$1,367 SEK 12.8K
40.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,434 SEK 13.4K
$1,096 SEK 10.2K
30.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,696 SEK 62.5K
$3,942 SEK 36.8K
69.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,764 SEK 35.1K
$3,388 SEK 31.6K
11.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Boras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,953 SEK 36.9K
$2,547 SEK 23.8K
55.18%
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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Boras: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Gothenburg and $846 in Boras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gothenburg pays 55% 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: $94.0 in Gothenburg vs $70.0 in Boras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $381 vs $343 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 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Gothenburg or Boras?
Gothenburg pays 55% more on average, 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: $1,125 in Gothenburg versus $846 in Boras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Gothenburg vs Boras?
All in, you'll spend $2,058 per month in Gothenburg versus $1,947 in Boras – a 6% 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 2% 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 Gothenburg or Boras?
At $1,947 in Boras versus $2,058 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 6% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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