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 $2,066 per month in Gothenburg vs $2,068 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,224 per month in Gothenburg vs $3,084 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,383 per month in Gothenburg vs $4,100 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

Gothenburg and Cedar Rapids, IA have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.75 SEK 132

$15.03 $15.03

-8.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$91.9 SEK 880

$69.7 $69.7

31.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.43 SEK 99.9

$10.51 $10.51

-0.76%

Cappuccino

$4.82 SEK 46.16

$5.34 $5.34

-9.74%

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

$2.95 SEK 28.31

$1.87 $1.87

57.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 SEK 24.33

$1.49 $1.49

70.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.59 SEK 72.8

$4.60 $4.60

65.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 SEK 75.0

$6.13 $6.13

27.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 SEK 16.23

$0.80 $0.80

111.25%

White Bread (500g)

$2.99 SEK 28.67

$2.97 $2.97

0.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 SEK 32.00

$4.62 $4.62

-27.71%

Eggs

$4.49 SEK 43.03

$3.16 $3.16

42.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 SEK 111

$13.71 $13.71

-15.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.52 SEK 120

$10.66 $10.66

17.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.88 SEK 181

$16.30 $16.30

15.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 SEK 29.20

$4.55 $4.55

-32.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.64 SEK 25.33

$1.15 $1.15

129.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.88 SEK 27.59

$5.17 $5.17

-44.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.19 SEK 40.19

$4.55 $4.55

-7.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 SEK 16.15

$2.53 $2.53

-33.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 SEK 18.11

$2.31 $2.31

-18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 SEK 22.15

$1.95 $1.95

18.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 SEK 14.95

$2.02 $2.02

-22.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.74 SEK 74.2

$9.11 $9.11

-15.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 SEK 141

$11.02 $11.02

33.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 SEK 20.87

$2.24 $2.24

-2.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 SEK 23.92

$3.36 $3.36

-25.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.88 SEK 37.22

$1.73 $1.73

124.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$90.8 SEK 870

$29.53 $29.53

207.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.14 SEK 97.2

$3.44 $3.44

194.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 SEK 15.38

$1.88 $1.88

-14.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$62.7 SEK 601

$42.52 $42.52

47.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.95 SEK 18.72

$0.79 $0.79

146.84%

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

$33.0K SEK 316.4K

$24.6K $24.6K

34.26%

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

$34.7K SEK 332.3K

$25.9K $25.9K

33.72%

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

$140 SEK 1,342

$204 $204

-31.26%

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

$25.11 SEK 241

$51.6 $51.6

-51.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.82 SEK 372

$70.0 $70.0

-44.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.73 SEK 400

$101 $101

-58.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.79 SEK 238

Cinema Ticket

$17.84 SEK 171

$12.89 $12.89

38.40%

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

$174 SEK 1,667

$966 $966

-82.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,111 SEK 39.4K

$25.0K $25.0K

-83.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.2 SEK 836

$62.8 $62.8

38.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.50 SEK 388

$47.57 $47.57

-14.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.6 SEK 945

$103 $103

-4.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$157 SEK 1,502

$131 $131

19.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,118 SEK 10.7K

$1,108 $1,108

0.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$871 SEK 8,343

$734 $734

18.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,889 SEK 18.1K

$1,748 $1,748

8.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,416 SEK 13.6K

$1,229 $1,229

15.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,574 SEK 63.0K

$1,546 $1,546

325.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,605 SEK 34.6K

$1,538 $1,538

134.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,736 SEK 35.8K

$3,663 $3,663

1.99%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Cedar Rapids, IA: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,118 in Gothenburg versus $1,108 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. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in Gothenburg versus $70.0 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $378 vs $369 – 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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,099 per month in Gothenburg and $3,102 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 Gothenburg, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Cedar Rapids, IA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $174 per month in Gothenburg and $966 in Cedar Rapids, IA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Gothenburg, where all-in costs run around $2,066, than in Cedar Rapids, IA at $2,068. In Gothenburg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cedar Rapids, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Gothenburg – 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 Gothenburg. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cedar Rapids, IA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.