🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,128 in Gothenburg versus $2,217 in Lake Charles, LA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,175 in Gothenburg versus $3,206 in Lake Charles, LA.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,222 in Gothenburg versus $4,194 in Lake Charles, LA.
🌍Living in Gothenburg costs roughly 4% less than in Lake Charles, LA, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg55% above, Lake Charles, LA61% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.76SEK 132
$25.21$25.21
-45.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.9SEK 879
$69.6$69.6
32.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.84SEK 123
$11.22$11.22
14.44%
Cappuccino
$5.06SEK 48.43
$5.30$5.30
-4.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94SEK 28.13
$1.98$1.98
48.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19SEK 20.93
$1.23$1.23
78.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.18SEK 68.7
$5.10$5.10
40.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86SEK 75.2
$6.18$6.18
27.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80SEK 17.18
$1.33$1.33
35.34%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77SEK 26.50
$4.05$4.05
-31.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.17SEK 30.28
$6.32$6.32
-49.84%
Eggs
$4.10SEK 39.18
$5.50$5.50
-25.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.10SEK 116
$16.43$16.43
-26.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.67SEK 112
$10.08$10.08
15.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.76SEK 170
$15.74$15.74
12.83%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23SEK 30.88
$4.31$4.31
-25.06%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64SEK 25.25
$1.32$1.32
100.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.22SEK 30.78
$1.90$1.90
69.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.37SEK 41.82
$5.49$5.49
-20.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82SEK 17.40
$4.26$4.26
-57.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68SEK 16.02
$2.20$2.20
-23.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03SEK 19.38
$2.19$2.19
-7.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78SEK 17.01
$2.54$2.54
-29.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.50SEK 81.3
$8.71$8.71
-2.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.55SEK 139
$16.89$16.89
-13.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20SEK 21.01
$2.53$2.53
-13.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38SEK 22.75
$3.87$3.87
-38.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.85SEK 36.80
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.8SEK 849
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.45SEK 61.7
$3.41$3.41
89.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73SEK 16.50
$1.51$1.51
14.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.3SEK 586
$34.44$34.44
77.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90SEK 18.22
$0.82$0.82
131.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KSEK 324.8K
$35.2K$35.2K
-3.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 328.6K
$25.7K$25.7K
33.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110SEK 1,052
$265$265
-58.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.66SEK 188
$69.0$69.0
-71.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.30SEK 347
$58.0$58.0
-37.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.94SEK 363
$31.55$31.55
20.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.89SEK 248
$14.28$14.28
81.30%
Cinema Ticket
$19.34SEK 185
$11.81$11.81
63.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$230SEK 2,196
$1,581$1,581
-85.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,554SEK 43.6K
$10.4K$10.4K
-56.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0SEK 870
$24.66$24.66
268.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.36SEK 329
$42.70$42.70
-19.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0SEK 899
$60.4$60.4
55.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135SEK 1,294
$119$119
13.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,061SEK 10.2K
$1,009$1,009
5.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$961SEK 9,191
$896$896
7.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,849SEK 17.7K
$1,517$1,517
21.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,440SEK 13.8K
$1,257$1,257
14.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,496SEK 62.1K
$1,398$1,398
364.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,613SEK 34.6K
$1,367$1,367
164.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,639SEK 34.8K
$3,698$3,698
-1.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.06
6.07
-49.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gothenburg: August 31, 2026
Last update for Lake Charles, LA: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,061 in Gothenburg and $1,009 in Lake Charles, LA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lake Charles, LA pays 2% 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 $70.0 in Lake Charles, LA. Groceries flip the comparison at $372 vs $423, with Gothenburg cheaper for home cooking.
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 Lake Charles, LA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gothenburg or Lake Charles, LA?
Gothenburg wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Lake Charles, LA. 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 Lake Charles, LA?
On paper, salaries run 2% lower in Lake Charles, LA. 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 Lake Charles, LA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,061 in Gothenburg versus $1,009 in Lake Charles, LA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Gothenburg and in Lake Charles, LA?
Childcare runs $230 in Gothenburg versus $1,581 in Lake Charles, LA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Gothenburg and in Lake Charles, LA?
Dining out is cheaper in Gothenburg – a meal for two runs $92.0 versus $70.0 in Lake Charles, LA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Gothenburg or in Lake Charles, LA?
At $2,128 in Gothenburg versus $2,217 in Lake Charles, LA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gothenburg but tight or insufficient in Lake Charles, LA. 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 Lake Charles, LA?
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 Lake Charles, LA?
Safety-wise, Gothenburg and Lake Charles, LA 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 4% less than in Lake Charles, LA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Gothenburg vs other spots: cost of living compared