Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Detroit, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Detroit, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,127 per month in Gothenburg vs $2,494 in Detroit, MI, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,216 per month in Gothenburg vs $3,670 in Detroit, MI, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,305 per month in Gothenburg vs $4,846 in Detroit, MI, rent included.

Gothenburg is about 15% cheaper than Detroit, MI, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Gothenburg and Detroit, MI sit above the global median – Gothenburg by 59%, Detroit, MI by 87%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.49 SEK 131

$17.67 $17.67

-23.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.8 SEK 881

$67.4 $67.4

34.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.36 SEK 100

$10.05 $10.05

3.08%

Cappuccino

$4.77 SEK 46.26

$4.73 $4.73

0.85%

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

$3.11 SEK 30.18

$2.51 $2.51

23.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 SEK 25.57

$1.83 $1.83

44.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.23 SEK 70.1

$6.05 $6.05

19.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 SEK 75.8

$7.11 $7.11

9.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 SEK 16.50

$0.83 $0.83

104.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.87 SEK 27.80

$3.31 $3.31

-13.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.24 SEK 31.37

$5.85 $5.85

-44.62%

Eggs

$4.47 SEK 43.35

$3.37 $3.37

32.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.69 SEK 113

$12.33 $12.33

-5.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.35 SEK 120

$11.79 $11.79

4.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.96 SEK 184

$20.40 $20.40

-7.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 SEK 29.88

$4.45 $4.45

-30.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.69 SEK 26.08

$1.18 $1.18

127.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 SEK 29.46

$5.89 $5.89

-48.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.24 SEK 41.14

$6.18 $6.18

-31.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 SEK 16.24

$2.08 $2.08

-19.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 SEK 18.32

$2.53 $2.53

-25.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 SEK 22.38

$2.63 $2.63

-12.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 SEK 15.03

$2.03 $2.03

-23.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.92 SEK 76.8

$9.97 $9.97

-20.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.41 SEK 140

$15.88 $15.88

-9.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 SEK 21.96

$2.03 $2.03

11.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 SEK 25.35

$2.54 $2.54

2.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.84 SEK 37.20

$1.96 $1.96

95.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.0 SEK 854

$65.2 $65.2

35.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.31 SEK 100.0

$2.44 $2.44

322.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 SEK 15.60

$1.41 $1.41

14.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$62.7 SEK 608

$47.80 $47.80

31.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.94 SEK 18.83

$0.92 $0.92

110.87%

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

$32.9K SEK 319.1K

$35.1K $35.1K

-6.36%

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

$34.8K SEK 337.8K

$24.8K $24.8K

40.31%

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

$138 SEK 1,337

$252 $252

-45.21%

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

$25.69 SEK 249

$55.3 $55.3

-53.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.95 SEK 368

$53.5 $53.5

-29.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.04 SEK 408

$43.09 $43.09

-2.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.19 SEK 244

$24.83 $24.83

1.45%

Cinema Ticket

$18.03 SEK 175

$11.08 $11.08

62.73%

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

$177 SEK 1,717

$1,305 $1,305

-86.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,144 SEK 40.2K

$17.0K $17.0K

-75.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.6 SEK 859

$54.8 $54.8

61.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.22 SEK 380

$31.07 $31.07

26.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 SEK 949

$98.6 $98.6

-0.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$155 SEK 1,506

$107 $107

45.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,108 SEK 10.7K

$1,420 $1,420

-21.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$879 SEK 8,524

$1,150 $1,150

-23.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,924 SEK 18.7K

$2,531 $2,531

-24.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,421 SEK 13.8K

$1,957 $1,957

-27.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,255 SEK 60.7K

$4,070 $4,070

53.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,622 SEK 35.1K

$1,300 $1,300

178.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,613 SEK 35.0K

$3,434 $3,434

5.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

6.42

-32.55%

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

Last update for Gothenburg: July 20, 2026

Last update for Detroit, MI: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,108 in Gothenburg versus $1,420 in Detroit, MI. 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 5% higher in Gothenburg, 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 $67.0 in Detroit, MI. Groceries tell a different story – $377 in Gothenburg vs $412 in Detroit, MI – 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 Detroit, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Detroit, MI costs about 17% more than Gothenburg, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,190 per month in Gothenburg and $3,742 in Detroit, MI. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $91.0 in Gothenburg and $67.0 in Detroit, MI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,127 in Gothenburg and $2,494 in Detroit, MI. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Gothenburg, where all-in costs run around $2,127, than in Detroit, MI at $2,494. In Gothenburg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Detroit, MI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gothenburg costs $2,127 versus $2,494 in Detroit, MI. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Detroit, MI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.