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 $2,097 per month in Gothenburg vs $2,226 in Freiburg im Breisgau, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,218 per month in Gothenburg vs $3,527 in Freiburg im Breisgau, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,339 per month in Gothenburg vs $4,829 in Freiburg im Breisgau, rent included.

Gothenburg is about 6% cheaper than Freiburg im Breisgau, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Gothenburg and Freiburg im Breisgau sit above the global median – Gothenburg by 52%, Freiburg im Breisgau by 61%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.75 SEK 133
$17.20 €14.83
-20.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.4 SEK 886
$82.4 €71.0
10.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.46 SEK 131
$11.80 €10.17
14.07%
Cappuccino
$5.14 SEK 49.80
$4.10 €3.53
25.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 SEK 29.41
$3.83 €3.30
-20.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 SEK 22.30
$3.42 €2.95
-32.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.07 SEK 68.6
$5.89 €5.08
20.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.68 SEK 74.5
$4.61 €3.97
66.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 SEK 17.72
$1.41 €1.21
29.79%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 SEK 26.27
$2.10 €1.81
29.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.30 SEK 31.98
$3.86 €3.33
-14.51%
Eggs
$4.07 SEK 39.47
$3.59 €3.09
13.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.25 SEK 119
$18.98 €16.36
-35.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.83 SEK 115
$10.94 €9.43
8.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.52 SEK 170
$27.00 €23.28
-35.11%
Apples (1kg)
$3.22 SEK 31.18
$3.33 €2.87
-3.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.68 SEK 25.96
$2.37 €2.04
13.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.12 SEK 30.27
$1.98 €1.71
57.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.35 SEK 42.16
$4.06 €3.50
7.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 SEK 18.26
$1.10 €0.94
70.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.73 SEK 16.77
$1.14 €0.98
51.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.11 SEK 20.42
$1.57 €1.36
34.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 SEK 17.21
$1.23 €1.06
44.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.16 SEK 79.1
$10.28 €8.86
-20.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.29 SEK 139
$6.77 €5.84
111.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 SEK 21.41
$1.23 €1.06
79.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 SEK 21.80
$1.70 €1.46
32.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.75 SEK 36.39
$3.31 €2.86
13.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.2 SEK 855
$70.1 €60.4
25.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.49 SEK 62.9
$4.73 €4.07
37.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.73 SEK 16.76
$3.33 €2.87
-48.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.2 SEK 593
$47.46 €40.91
28.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 SEK 18.47
$2.14 €1.84
-11.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K SEK 333.9K
$34.2K €29.5K
0.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K SEK 336.2K
$39.3K €33.9K
-11.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 SEK 1,035
$238 €205
-55.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.02 SEK 194
$39.80 €34.30
-49.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.46 SEK 353
$54.4 €46.87
-32.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.87 SEK 367
$44.37 €38.25
-14.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.91 SEK 251
$13.66 €11.78
89.68%
Cinema Ticket
$19.30 SEK 187
$15.95 €13.75
21.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$226 SEK 2,192
$505 €435
-55.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,552 SEK 44.1K
$16.4K €14.2K
-72.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.1 SEK 892
$104 €90.0
-11.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.33 SEK 333
$46.31 €39.92
-25.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 SEK 930
$105 €90.3
-8.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 SEK 1,336
$177 €153
-22.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,093 SEK 10.6K
$1,129 €973
-3.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$974 SEK 9,446
$876 €756
11.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,896 SEK 18.4K
$2,181 €1,880
-13.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,464 SEK 14.2K
$1,792 €1,545
-18.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,464 SEK 62.7K
$7,601 €6,552
-14.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,660 SEK 35.5K
$4,983 €4,296
-26.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,689 SEK 35.8K
$3,276 €2,824
12.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.06
3.92
-21.94%

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

Last update for Gothenburg: September 7, 2026

Last update for Freiburg im Breisgau: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,093 in Gothenburg versus $1,129 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 13% 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 $82.0 in Freiburg im Breisgau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 vs $366 – 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 6%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $3,145 per month in Gothenburg and $3,339 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 in Freiburg im Breisgau?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $91.0 in Gothenburg and $82.0 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 and in Freiburg im Breisgau?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,097 in Gothenburg and $2,226 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 living in Gothenburg or in Freiburg im Breisgau?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Gothenburg, where all-in costs run around $2,097, than in Freiburg im Breisgau at $2,226. 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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