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 $2,120 per month in Gothenburg vs $2,008 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,250 per month in Gothenburg vs $3,049 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,380 per month in Gothenburg vs $4,090 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

Gothenburg costs about 6% more than Cedar Rapids, IA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Gothenburg and Cedar Rapids, IA sit above the global median – Gothenburg by 58%, Cedar Rapids, IA by 50%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.54 SEK 126

$15.14 $15.14

-10.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$92.2 SEK 857

$69.1 $69.1

33.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.41 SEK 96.8

$10.47 $10.47

-0.57%

Cappuccino

$5.01 SEK 46.57

$5.42 $5.42

-7.56%

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

$3.11 SEK 28.92

$1.96 $1.96

58.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 SEK 23.40

$1.54 $1.54

63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.47 SEK 69.5

$4.54 $4.54

64.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.86 SEK 73.1

$6.03 $6.03

30.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SEK 15.62

$0.88 $0.88

90.91%

White Bread (500g)

$2.99 SEK 27.77

$2.96 $2.96

1.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 SEK 30.29

$4.63 $4.63

-29.59%

Eggs

$4.45 SEK 41.40

$3.11 $3.11

43.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.52 SEK 107

$13.78 $13.78

-16.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.21 SEK 114

$11.03 $11.03

10.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.59 SEK 173

$15.89 $15.89

16.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.19 SEK 29.64

$4.39 $4.39

-27.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.70 SEK 25.09

$1.15 $1.15

134.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 SEK 27.87

$5.34 $5.34

-43.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 SEK 40.27

$4.55 $4.55

-4.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 SEK 15.56

$2.53 $2.53

-33.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 SEK 17.54

$2.34 $2.34

-19.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 SEK 20.76

$1.97 $1.97

13.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 SEK 14.98

$1.97 $1.97

-18.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.02 SEK 74.6

$9.16 $9.16

-12.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.58 SEK 117

$10.88 $10.88

15.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 SEK 21.06

$2.26 $2.26

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 SEK 23.22

$3.37 $3.37

-25.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.98 SEK 36.98

$1.79 $1.79

122.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.6 SEK 824

$30.07 $30.07

194.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.11 SEK 94.0

$3.59 $3.59

181.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 SEK 14.79

$1.88 $1.88

-15.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$62.3 SEK 579

$41.71 $41.71

49.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.94 SEK 18.01

$0.83 $0.83

133.73%

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

$32.2K SEK 299.4K

$25.4K $25.4K

26.85%

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

$35.0K SEK 325.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

38.38%

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

$139 SEK 1,295

$205 $205

-31.93%

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

$25.22 SEK 235

$51.9 $51.9

-51.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.47 SEK 367

$72.3 $72.3

-45.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.17 SEK 392

$101 $101

-58.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.32 SEK 235

Cinema Ticket

$17.60 SEK 164

$12.55 $12.55

40.24%

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

$175 SEK 1,623

$965 $965

-81.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,140 SEK 38.5K

$24.2K $24.2K

-82.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.0 SEK 818

$62.8 $62.8

40.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.75 SEK 370

$47.40 $47.40

-16.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 SEK 913

$103 $103

-4.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 SEK 1,452

$135 $135

16.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,104 SEK 10.3K

$1,135 $1,135

-2.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$876 SEK 8,150

$738 $738

18.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,865 SEK 17.3K

$1,748 $1,748

6.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 SEK 13.1K

$1,203 $1,203

17.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,531 SEK 60.7K

$1,565 $1,565

317.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,920 SEK 36.5K

$1,520 $1,520

157.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,025 SEK 37.4K

$3,668 $3,668

9.73%

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: April 26, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,104 in Gothenburg versus $1,135 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 10% 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 $92.0 in Gothenburg versus $69.0 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 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 6%, 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 $3,181 per month in Gothenburg and $3,012 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 1% 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 $92.0 in Gothenburg and $69.0 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 $2,008, than in Gothenburg at $2,120. 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.