Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Freiburg im Breisgau Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Freiburg im Breisgau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,058 per month in Gothenburg vs $2,269 in Freiburg im Breisgau, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,193 per month in Gothenburg vs $3,465 in Freiburg im Breisgau, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,328 per month in Gothenburg vs $4,661 in Freiburg im Breisgau, rent included.

Gothenburg is about 9% cheaper than Freiburg im Breisgau, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Gothenburg and Freiburg im Breisgau sit above the global median – Gothenburg by 54%, Freiburg im Breisgau by 69%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.74 SEK 128
$17.16 €14.76
-19.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.9 SEK 876
$69.4 €59.7
35.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.34 SEK 96.5
$12.56 €10.80
-17.68%
Cappuccino
$4.73 SEK 44.18
$3.72 €3.20
27.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 SEK 27.70
$3.58 €3.08
-17.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 SEK 23.64
$3.38 €2.91
-25.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.26 SEK 67.8
$5.77 €4.97
25.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72 SEK 72.0
$4.56 €3.93
69.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 SEK 15.67
$1.26 €1.09
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.85 SEK 26.62
$2.26 €1.94
26.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.32 SEK 30.95
$3.18 €2.73
4.40%
Eggs
$4.65 SEK 43.41
$3.75 €3.23
24.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.80 SEK 110
$14.96 €12.87
-21.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.61 SEK 118
$14.98 €12.89
-15.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.02 SEK 178
$22.15 €19.05
-14.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.10 SEK 28.92
$3.29 €2.83
-5.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.74 SEK 25.54
$1.75 €1.50
56.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 SEK 27.11
$2.33 €2.01
24.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.18 SEK 38.96
$5.04 €4.34
-17.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 SEK 15.50
$1.55 €1.33
7.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 SEK 17.25
$1.70 €1.47
8.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 SEK 21.22
$2.10 €1.81
8.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 SEK 14.46
$1.22 €1.05
27.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.82 SEK 73.0
$9.57 €8.23
-18.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.32 SEK 143
$6.87 €5.91
123.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 SEK 21.08
$1.06 €0.91
113.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 SEK 24.32
$1.70 €1.46
53.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.80 SEK 35.45
$3.16 €2.71
20.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.6 SEK 827
$66.3 €57.0
33.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.11 SEK 94.3
$4.58 €3.94
120.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 SEK 15.48
$2.87 €2.47
-42.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.7 SEK 576
$45.86 €39.45
34.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 SEK 17.64
$1.97 €1.70
-4.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K SEK 298.9K
$31.8K €27.4K
0.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K SEK 321.6K
$40.6K €34.9K
-15.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 SEK 1,292
$307 €264
-54.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.95 SEK 233
$27.20 €23.40
-8.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.25 SEK 357
$55.3 €47.58
-30.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.78 SEK 390
$42.98 €36.97
-2.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.26 SEK 236
$14.59 €12.55
73.13%
Cinema Ticket
$17.98 SEK 168
$15.72 €13.52
14.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$175 SEK 1,637
$495 €426
-64.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,215 SEK 39.3K
$5,039 €4,335
-16.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.6 SEK 817
$106 €90.9
-17.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.28 SEK 376
$35.64 €30.66
13.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.9 SEK 904
$103 €88.2
-5.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156 SEK 1,458
$150 €129
4.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 SEK 10.5K
$1,147 €987
-1.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$873 SEK 8,148
$843 €726
3.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,917 SEK 17.9K
$1,945 €1,673
-1.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,434 SEK 13.4K
$1,731 €1,489
-17.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,696 SEK 62.5K
$7,585 €6,525
-11.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,764 SEK 35.1K
$4,860 €4,181
-22.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,953 SEK 36.9K
$3,108 €2,674
27.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.33
3.97
9.07%

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

Last update for Gothenburg: June 2, 2026

Last update for Freiburg im Breisgau: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,125 in Gothenburg versus $1,147 in Freiburg im Breisgau. 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 27% 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 $94.0 in Gothenburg versus $69.0 in Freiburg im Breisgau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $381 vs $364 – making Freiburg im Breisgau 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 Freiburg im Breisgau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Freiburg im Breisgau cheaper than Gothenburg?
Yes – Freiburg im Breisgau is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,087 per month in Gothenburg and $3,404 in Freiburg im Breisgau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Gothenburg or Freiburg im Breisgau?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Gothenburg and $69.0 in Freiburg im Breisgau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Gothenburg vs Freiburg im Breisgau?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,058 in Gothenburg and $2,269 in Freiburg im Breisgau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Gothenburg or Freiburg im Breisgau?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Gothenburg, where all-in costs run around $2,058, than in Freiburg im Breisgau at $2,269. In Gothenburg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Freiburg im Breisgau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Gothenburg or Freiburg im Breisgau more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Gothenburg or Freiburg im Breisgau?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Gothenburg. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Freiburg im Breisgau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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