Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Cedar Rapids, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Cedar Rapids, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,068 per month in Gothenburg vs $2,049 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,219 per month in Gothenburg vs $3,020 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,369 per month in Gothenburg vs $3,990 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

Gothenburg costs about 1% more than Cedar Rapids, IA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Gothenburg and Cedar Rapids, IA sit above the global median – Gothenburg by 55%, Cedar Rapids, IA by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.85 SEK 132

$15.14 $15.14

-8.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$92.8 SEK 882

$71.4 $71.4

29.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.57 SEK 100

$10.62 $10.62

-0.47%

Cappuccino

$4.95 SEK 47.04

$5.26 $5.26

-5.89%

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

$3.04 SEK 28.90

$1.93 $1.93

57.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 SEK 25.25

$1.48 $1.48

79.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.42 SEK 70.5

$4.40 $4.40

68.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 SEK 76.1

$6.09 $6.09

31.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SEK 15.96

$0.86 $0.86

95.35%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 SEK 27.43

$2.94 $2.94

-1.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 SEK 31.65

$4.58 $4.58

-27.29%

Eggs

$4.49 SEK 42.68

$3.23 $3.23

39.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.70 SEK 111

$13.66 $13.66

-14.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.25 SEK 116

$10.98 $10.98

11.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.65 SEK 177

$15.86 $15.86

17.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 SEK 29.10

$4.39 $4.39

-30.30%

Banana (1kg)

$2.73 SEK 25.91

$1.16 $1.16

135.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 SEK 28.45

$5.37 $5.37

-44.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.16 SEK 39.48

$4.75 $4.75

-12.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 SEK 16.55

$2.48 $2.48

-29.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 SEK 18.42

$2.34 $2.34

-17.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 SEK 21.20

$1.98 $1.98

12.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 SEK 15.18

$1.99 $1.99

-19.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.91 SEK 75.1

$9.29 $9.29

-14.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.41 SEK 137

$10.90 $10.90

32.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 SEK 21.57

$2.17 $2.17

4.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 SEK 24.02

$3.42 $3.42

-26.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.87 SEK 36.79

$1.78 $1.78

117.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.6 SEK 851

$29.89 $29.89

199.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.31 SEK 98.0

$3.55 $3.55

190.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 SEK 15.23

$1.89 $1.89

-15.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$62.1 SEK 590

$41.85 $41.85

48.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.93 SEK 18.34

$0.84 $0.84

129.76%

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

$32.2K SEK 305.9K

$25.5K $25.5K

26.39%

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

$35.0K SEK 332.3K

$25.2K $25.2K

38.85%

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

$136 SEK 1,290

$206 $206

-33.94%

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

$25.35 SEK 241

$50.5 $50.5

-49.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.47 SEK 375

$72.2 $72.2

-45.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.88 SEK 388

$99.2 $99.2

-58.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.69 SEK 235

Cinema Ticket

$18.13 SEK 172

$12.85 $12.85

41.09%

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

$176 SEK 1,676

$975 $975

-81.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,094 SEK 38.9K

$24.1K $24.1K

-83.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.0 SEK 855

$63.3 $63.3

42.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.38 SEK 374

$48.02 $48.02

-17.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 SEK 924

$100 $100

-2.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$155 SEK 1,477

$134 $134

15.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,136 SEK 10.8K

$1,100 $1,100

3.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$859 SEK 8,162

$734 $734

17.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,855 SEK 17.6K

$1,780 $1,780

4.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,440 SEK 13.7K

$1,204 $1,204

19.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,400 SEK 60.8K

$1,559 $1,559

310.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,577 SEK 34.0K

$1,527 $1,527

134.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,689 SEK 35.0K

$3,627 $3,627

1.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

6.49

-33.28%

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

Last update for Gothenburg: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cedar Rapids, IA: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,136 in Gothenburg versus $1,100 in Cedar Rapids, IA. 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 Gothenburg, 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 $93.0 in Gothenburg versus $71.0 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $376 vs $370 – making Cedar Rapids, IA 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 Cedar Rapids, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Gothenburg is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,102 per month in Gothenburg and $3,073 in Cedar Rapids, IA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 2% more in Gothenburg, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $93.0 in Gothenburg and $71.0 in Cedar Rapids, IA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Cedar Rapids, IA, where all-in costs run around $2,049, than in Gothenburg at $2,068. In Cedar Rapids, IA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gothenburg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cedar Rapids, IA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Cedar Rapids, IA. 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.