😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,097 in Gothenburg versus $1,780 in Lelystad.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,218 in Gothenburg versus $2,755 in Lelystad.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,339 in Gothenburg versus $3,731 in Lelystad.
🌍Living in Gothenburg is roughly 18% more expensive than in Lelystad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg52% above, Lelystad29% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.75SEK 133
$22.93€19.77
-40.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.4SEK 886
$85.9€74.0
6.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.46SEK 131
$14.09€12.15
-4.47%
Cappuccino
$5.14SEK 49.80
$4.25€3.66
20.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03SEK 29.41
$2.71€2.33
11.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30SEK 22.30
$2.43€2.10
-5.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.07SEK 68.6
$5.64€4.86
25.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.68SEK 74.5
$4.56€3.93
68.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.83SEK 17.72
$1.26€1.09
45.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71SEK 26.27
$1.70€1.47
59.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.30SEK 31.98
$2.52€2.17
30.95%
Eggs
$4.07SEK 39.47
$4.77€4.11
-14.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.25SEK 119
$7.17€6.18
70.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.83SEK 115
$14.66€12.64
-19.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.52SEK 170
$17.24€14.86
1.62%
Apples(1kg)
$3.22SEK 31.18
$2.24€1.93
43.75%
Banana(1kg)
$2.68SEK 25.96
$2.55€2.20
5.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.12SEK 30.27
$1.92€1.66
62.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.35SEK 42.16
$3.57€3.08
21.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.88SEK 18.26
$1.81€1.56
3.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73SEK 16.77
$1.81€1.56
-4.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.11SEK 20.42
$1.28€1.10
64.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78SEK 17.21
$0.83€0.71
114.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.16SEK 79.1
$10.27€8.85
-20.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.29SEK 139
$7.01€6.05
103.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21SEK 21.41
$1.40€1.20
57.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25SEK 21.80
$2.50€2.15
-10.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.75SEK 36.39
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.2SEK 855
$116€99.9
-23.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.49SEK 62.9
$3.83€3.30
69.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73SEK 16.76
$2.78€2.39
-37.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.2SEK 593
$27.34€23.57
123.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90SEK 18.47
$2.24€1.93
-15.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KSEK 333.9K
$34.2K€29.5K
0.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KSEK 336.2K
$40.2K€34.6K
-13.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107SEK 1,035
$248€213
-56.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.02SEK 194
$14.99€12.92
33.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.46SEK 353
$33.63€28.99
8.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.87SEK 367
$45.01€38.80
-15.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.91SEK 251
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.30SEK 187
$13.89€11.97
38.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226SEK 2,192
$2,850€2,456
-92.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,552SEK 44.1K
$8,485€7,314
-46.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.1SEK 892
$100€86.6
-8.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.33SEK 333
$49.22€42.43
-30.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0SEK 930
$98.3€84.7
-2.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138SEK 1,336
$120€104
14.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,093SEK 10.6K
$693€597
57.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$974SEK 9,446
$459€395
112.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,896SEK 18.4K
$1,385€1,194
36.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,464SEK 14.2K
$830€715
76.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,464SEK 62.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,660SEK 35.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,689SEK 35.8K
$2,471€2,130
49.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.06
3.21
-4.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gothenburg: September 7, 2026
Last update for Lelystad: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,093 in Gothenburg and $693 in Lelystad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gothenburg 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: $91.0 in Gothenburg vs $86.0 in Lelystad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $373 vs $307 per month, with Lelystad 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 Lelystad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gothenburg or Lelystad?
Lelystad wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Gothenburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lelystad the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Gothenburg or in Lelystad?
Average pay runs 49% higher in Gothenburg, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Gothenburg compared to Lelystad?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,093 in Gothenburg versus $693 in Lelystad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Gothenburg and in Lelystad?
Childcare runs $226 in Gothenburg versus $2,850 in Lelystad. 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 Lelystad?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Gothenburg. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Gothenburg or in Lelystad?
At $1,780 in Lelystad versus $2,097 in Gothenburg, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lelystad but tight or insufficient in Gothenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Lelystad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gothenburg or Lelystad?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lelystad delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,780 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lelystad hard to pass up.
How safe is Gothenburg compared to Lelystad?
Safety-wise, Gothenburg and Lelystad 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 Lelystad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Gothenburg vs other spots: cost of living compared