🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,128 in Gothenburg versus $3,449 in Kingston upon Thames.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,175 in Gothenburg versus $4,925 in Kingston upon Thames.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,222 in Gothenburg versus $6,400 in Kingston upon Thames.
🌍Living in Gothenburg costs roughly 38% less than in Kingston upon Thames, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg55% above, Kingston upon Thames151% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.76SEK 133
$22.44£16.64
-38.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.9SEK 885
$87.1£64.6
5.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.84SEK 124
$11.01£8.17
16.62%
Cappuccino
$5.06SEK 48.77
$5.61£4.16
-9.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94SEK 28.33
$3.06£2.27
-3.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19SEK 21.08
$1.82£1.35
20.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.18SEK 69.2
$9.62£7.13
-25.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86SEK 75.7
$8.86£6.57
-11.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80SEK 17.30
$1.75£1.30
2.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77SEK 26.68
$1.73£1.28
60.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.17SEK 30.49
$2.42£1.80
30.99%
Eggs
$4.10SEK 39.45
$5.06£3.76
-18.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.10SEK 117
$8.85£6.56
36.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.67SEK 112
$8.77£6.50
33.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.76SEK 171
$13.23£9.81
34.24%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23SEK 31.09
$3.35£2.49
-3.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64SEK 25.42
$1.42£1.06
85.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.22SEK 31.00
$2.57£1.91
25.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.37SEK 42.11
$2.82£2.09
54.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82SEK 17.52
$1.70£1.26
7.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68SEK 16.13
$1.84£1.36
-8.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03SEK 19.51
$1.28£0.95
58.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78SEK 17.13
$1.81£1.34
-1.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.50SEK 81.8
$24.17£17.93
-64.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.55SEK 140
$9.51£7.06
53.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20SEK 21.16
$3.21£2.38
-31.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38SEK 22.91
$4.53£3.36
-47.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.85SEK 37.06
$2.32£1.72
65.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.8SEK 855
$44.12£32.72
101.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.45SEK 62.1
$4.91£3.65
31.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73SEK 16.62
$1.46£1.08
18.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.3SEK 590
$24.58£18.23
149.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90SEK 18.34
$1.98£1.47
-4.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KSEK 327.1K
$39.8K£29.5K
-14.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 330.9K
$41.8K£31.0K
-17.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110SEK 1,060
$365£271
-69.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.66SEK 189
$15.96£11.84
23.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.30SEK 350
$42.50£31.53
-14.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.94SEK 365
$104£77.4
-63.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.89SEK 249
$10.93£8.11
136.87%
Cinema Ticket
$19.34SEK 186
$20.72£15.37
-6.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$230SEK 2,212
$2,729£2,024
-91.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,554SEK 43.9K
$22.6K£16.8K
-79.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0SEK 876
$116£85.7
-21.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.36SEK 331
$54.1£40.12
-36.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0SEK 906
$80.1£59.4
17.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135SEK 1,303
$107£79.4
26.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,061SEK 10.2K
$2,066£1,532
-48.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$961SEK 9,255
$1,879£1,394
-48.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,849SEK 17.8K
$3,730£2,766
-50.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,440SEK 13.9K
$3,235£2,399
-55.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,496SEK 62.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,613SEK 34.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Kingston upon Thames
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,639SEK 35.0K
$5,416£4,017
-32.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.06
4.84
-36.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gothenburg: August 31, 2026
Last update for Kingston upon Thames: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,061 in Gothenburg and $2,066 in Kingston upon Thames. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kingston upon Thames pays 49% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $92.0 in Gothenburg vs $87.0 in Kingston upon Thames for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 vs $304 per month, with Kingston upon Thames cheaper across the board.
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 Kingston upon Thames: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gothenburg or Kingston upon Thames?
Gothenburg wins on cost – living expenses run 62% lower than in Kingston upon Thames. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gothenburg the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Gothenburg or in Kingston upon Thames?
On paper, salaries run 49% lower in Kingston upon Thames. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Gothenburg compared to Kingston upon Thames?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,061 in Gothenburg versus $2,066 in Kingston upon Thames. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Gothenburg and in Kingston upon Thames?
Childcare runs $230 in Gothenburg versus $2,729 in Kingston upon Thames. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Gothenburg or in Kingston upon Thames?
Shoppers in Kingston upon Thames pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Gothenburg or in Kingston upon Thames?
At $2,128 in Gothenburg versus $3,449 in Kingston upon Thames, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gothenburg but tight or insufficient in Kingston upon Thames. The gap between the two cities makes Gothenburg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gothenburg or Kingston upon Thames?
Both work as nomad bases, but Gothenburg delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,128 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Gothenburg hard to pass up.
How safe is Gothenburg compared to Kingston upon Thames?
Safety-wise, Gothenburg and Kingston upon Thames are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Gothenburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Kingston upon Thames. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Gothenburg vs other spots: cost of living compared