Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Canberra Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Canberra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,058 per month in Gothenburg vs $2,482 in Canberra, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,193 per month in Gothenburg vs $3,566 in Canberra, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,328 per month in Gothenburg vs $4,650 in Canberra, rent included.

Gothenburg is about 17% cheaper than Canberra, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Gothenburg and Canberra sit above the global median – Gothenburg by 54%, Canberra by 85%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.74 SEK 129

$16.05 A$22.49

-14.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$93.9 SEK 882

$86.3 A$121

8.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.34 SEK 97.1

$9.86 A$13.81

4.87%

Cappuccino

$4.73 SEK 44.47

$3.36 A$4.70

40.77%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 SEK 27.88

$2.58 A$3.61

15.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 SEK 23.80

$2.32 A$3.25

9.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.26 SEK 68.2

$6.45 A$9.04

12.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.72 SEK 72.5

$7.50 A$10.52

2.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SEK 15.77

$1.42 A$1.99

18.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 SEK 26.80

$2.68 A$3.76

6.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 SEK 31.15

$1.85 A$2.59

79.46%

Eggs

$4.65 SEK 43.70

$4.10 A$5.75

13.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 SEK 111

$10.02 A$14.04

17.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.61 SEK 118

$9.22 A$12.92

36.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.02 SEK 179

$14.94 A$20.93

27.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 SEK 29.11

$3.27 A$4.58

-5.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 SEK 25.71

$2.86 A$4.00

-4.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 SEK 27.29

$3.06 A$4.28

-4.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 SEK 39.22

$4.88 A$6.83

-14.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.66 SEK 15.61

$2.28 A$3.20

-27.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 SEK 17.37

$2.10 A$2.95

-11.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 SEK 21.36

$2.38 A$3.33

-4.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 SEK 14.55

$1.29 A$1.81

20.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.82 SEK 73.5

$30.41 A$42.62

-74.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.32 SEK 144

$14.80 A$20.74

3.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 SEK 21.22

$5.10 A$7.14

-55.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 SEK 24.49

$6.11 A$8.56

-57.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.80 SEK 35.69

$3.26 A$4.57

16.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.6 SEK 832

$120 A$169

-26.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.11 SEK 94.9

$4.08 A$5.72

147.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 SEK 15.58

$1.72 A$2.41

-3.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$61.7 SEK 580

$40.63 A$56.9

51.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.89 SEK 17.76

$1.15 A$1.61

64.35%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.0K SEK 300.9K

$28.7K A$40.2K

11.59%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.5K SEK 323.8K

$22.6K A$31.7K

52.26%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$138 SEK 1,301

$222 A$312

-37.72%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$24.95 SEK 234

$30.13 A$42.22

-17.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.25 SEK 359

$52.1 A$73.1

-26.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.78 SEK 392

$60.0 A$84.0

-30.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.26 SEK 237

$20.75 A$29.08

21.73%

Cinema Ticket

$17.98 SEK 169

$13.59 A$19.04

32.30%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$175 SEK 1,648

$1,763 A$2,470

-90.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,215 SEK 39.6K

$13.4K A$18.8K

-68.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.6 SEK 823

$70.6 A$98.9

24.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.28 SEK 378

$56.7 A$79.4

-28.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.9 SEK 910

$99.8 A$140

-2.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 SEK 1,468

$115 A$161

35.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,125 SEK 10.6K

$1,548 A$2,169

-27.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$873 SEK 8,203

$1,141 A$1,598

-23.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,917 SEK 18.0K

$2,855 A$4,000

-32.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 SEK 13.5K

$1,754 A$2,458

-18.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,696 SEK 62.9K

$8,990 A$12.6K

-25.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,764 SEK 35.4K

$6,079 A$8,518

-38.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,953 SEK 37.1K

$4,626 A$6,481

-14.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

6.29

-31.16%

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

Last update for Gothenburg: June 2, 2026

Last update for Canberra: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,125 in Gothenburg versus $1,548 in Canberra. 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 17% higher in Canberra, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Gothenburg versus $86.0 in Canberra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $381 vs $359 – making Canberra 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 Canberra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,058 in Gothenburg, $2,482 in Canberra – roughly 21% apart. Canberra costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,087 per month in Gothenburg and $3,723 in Canberra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gothenburg, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,058 in Gothenburg and $2,482 in Canberra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 36% less in Gothenburg. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Gothenburg, where all-in costs run around $2,058, than in Canberra at $2,482. In Gothenburg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Canberra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Gothenburg has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,058 in Gothenburg to $2,482 in Canberra. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Gothenburg. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Canberra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.