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 $2,029 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,137 per month in Gothenburg vs $3,086 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,208 per month in Gothenburg vs $4,142 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

Gothenburg costs about 2% more than Cedar Rapids, IA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Gothenburg and Cedar Rapids, IA sit above the global median – Gothenburg by 51%, Cedar Rapids, IA by 48%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.45 SEK 132

$14.81 $14.81

-9.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$91.4 SEK 898

$70.6 $70.6

29.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.14 SEK 129

$11.19 $11.19

17.43%

Cappuccino

$4.97 SEK 48.78

$5.69 $5.69

-12.65%

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

$3.02 SEK 29.68

$2.80 $2.80

7.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 SEK 21.86

$1.91 $1.91

16.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 SEK 67.6

$4.38 $4.38

57.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.55 SEK 74.2

$5.92 $5.92

27.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 SEK 17.02

$0.70 $0.70

147.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 SEK 26.70

$2.55 $2.55

6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.18 SEK 31.22

$4.53 $4.53

-29.80%

Eggs

$3.94 SEK 38.70

$2.39 $2.39

64.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.92 SEK 117

$13.99 $13.99

-14.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.66 SEK 115

$10.80 $10.80

7.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.83 SEK 165

$16.20 $16.20

3.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.20 SEK 31.41

$4.85 $4.85

-34.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 SEK 25.26

$1.15 $1.15

123.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.08 SEK 30.31

$5.37 $5.37

-42.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.24 SEK 41.70

$4.67 $4.67

-9.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 SEK 18.19

$2.48 $2.48

-25.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 SEK 16.24

$2.33 $2.33

-29.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 SEK 19.45

$1.99 $1.99

-0.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 SEK 16.95

$2.22 $2.22

-22.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.36 SEK 82.2

$10.08 $10.08

-17.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.27 SEK 140

$11.05 $11.05

29.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 SEK 20.32

$2.15 $2.15

-3.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 SEK 21.89

$3.25 $3.25

-31.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.74 SEK 36.78

$1.72 $1.72

117.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.0 SEK 864

$29.70 $29.70

196.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 SEK 61.1

$3.53 $3.53

76.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 SEK 16.77

$1.84 $1.84

-7.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$60.3 SEK 593

$44.89 $44.89

34.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.83 SEK 17.93

$0.87 $0.87

110.34%

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

$33.4K SEK 328.0K

$36.8K $36.8K

-9.37%

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

$34.8K SEK 341.7K

$27.3K $27.3K

27.41%

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

$107 SEK 1,054

$204 $204

-47.39%

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

$19.22 SEK 189

$53.7 $53.7

-64.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.96 SEK 353

$69.1 $69.1

-47.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.06 SEK 364

$102 $102

-63.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.22 SEK 248

$18.88 $18.88

33.58%

Cinema Ticket

$19.54 SEK 192

$13.25 $13.25

47.47%

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

$229 SEK 2,246

$864 $864

-73.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,474 SEK 44.0K

$12.5K $12.5K

-64.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.2 SEK 876

$61.4 $61.4

45.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.16 SEK 326

$64.3 $64.3

-48.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.3 SEK 916

$130 $130

-28.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 SEK 1,304

$152 $152

-12.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,045 SEK 10.3K

$1,171 $1,171

-10.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$952 SEK 9,351

$729 $729

30.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,862 SEK 18.3K

$1,582 $1,582

17.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,409 SEK 13.8K

$1,195 $1,195

17.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,398 SEK 62.9K

$1,571 $1,571

307.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,571 SEK 35.1K

$1,524 $1,524

134.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,625 SEK 35.6K

$3,696 $3,696

-1.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.06

6.1

-49.84%

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

Last update for Gothenburg: September 14, 2026

Last update for Cedar Rapids, IA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,045 in Gothenburg versus $1,171 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 Cedar Rapids, IA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $91.0 in Gothenburg versus $71.0 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Groceries tell a different story – $363 in Gothenburg vs $367 in Cedar Rapids, IA – so Gothenburg wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 2%, 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 $3,099 per month in Gothenburg and $3,044 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Gothenburg – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $91.0 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 $2,029, than in Gothenburg at $2,066. 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.