😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,058 in Gothenburg versus $1,785 in Lelystad.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,193 in Gothenburg versus $2,818 in Lelystad.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,328 in Gothenburg versus $3,851 in Lelystad.
😐Living in Gothenburg is roughly 15% more expensive than Lelystad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg54% above, Lelystad33% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.74SEK 128
$25.02€21.52
-45.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.9SEK 876
$93.4€80.3
0.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.34SEK 96.5
$13.87€11.93
-25.45%
Cappuccino
$4.73SEK 44.18
$4.10€3.53
15.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97SEK 27.70
$3.12€2.69
-4.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53SEK 23.64
$1.85€1.59
36.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.26SEK 67.8
$5.36€4.61
35.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72SEK 72.0
$5.67€4.87
36.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68SEK 15.67
$1.22€1.05
37.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.85SEK 26.62
$1.62€1.39
75.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.32SEK 30.95
$2.58€2.22
28.68%
Eggs
$4.65SEK 43.41
$4.55€3.92
2.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.80SEK 110
$6.74€5.80
75.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.61SEK 118
$15.50€13.33
-18.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.02SEK 178
$17.36€14.93
9.56%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10SEK 28.92
$2.28€1.96
35.96%
Banana(1kg)
$2.74SEK 25.54
$2.58€2.22
6.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91SEK 27.11
$1.93€1.66
50.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.18SEK 38.96
$3.56€3.06
17.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66SEK 15.50
$2.11€1.82
-21.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85SEK 17.25
$1.90€1.63
-2.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.27SEK 21.22
$1.24€1.07
83.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55SEK 14.46
$0.82€0.71
89.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.82SEK 73.0
$9.91€8.53
-21.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.32SEK 143
$7.14€6.14
114.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26SEK 21.08
$1.33€1.15
69.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61SEK 24.32
$2.46€2.12
6.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.80SEK 35.45
$3.56€3.07
6.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.6SEK 827
$114€97.9
-22.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.11SEK 94.3
$4.21€3.62
140.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66SEK 15.48
$2.42€2.09
-31.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.7SEK 576
$27.34€23.52
125.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 17.64
$2.23€1.91
-15.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KSEK 298.9K
$34.7K€29.8K
-7.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 321.6K
$37.9K€32.6K
-9.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138SEK 1,292
$241€208
-42.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.95SEK 233
$15.14€13.02
64.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.25SEK 357
$35.43€30.48
7.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.78SEK 390
$43.40€37.33
-3.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.26SEK 236
$23.53€20.24
7.35%
Cinema Ticket
$17.98SEK 168
$14.16€12.18
26.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$175SEK 1,637
$2,777€2,389
-93.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,215SEK 39.3K
$6,381€5,489
-33.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.6SEK 817
$99.6€85.7
-12.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.28SEK 376
$50.4€43.35
-20.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.9SEK 904
$97.8€84.1
-0.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,458
$118€101
32.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,125SEK 10.5K
$684€588
64.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$873SEK 8,148
$466€401
87.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,917SEK 17.9K
$1,389€1,195
38.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,434SEK 13.4K
$799€687
79.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,696SEK 62.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,764SEK 35.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Lelystad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,953SEK 36.9K
$2,504€2,154
57.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
4.28
1.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gothenburg: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lelystad: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Gothenburg and $684 in Lelystad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gothenburg pays 58% 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: $94.0 in Gothenburg vs $93.0 in Lelystad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $381 vs $310 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 15% 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 Lelystad?
Gothenburg pays 58% more on average, 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 vs Lelystad?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Gothenburg versus $684 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 Lelystad?
Childcare runs $175 in Gothenburg versus $2,777 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 Lelystad?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% 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 Lelystad?
At $1,785 in Lelystad versus $2,058 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 $1,785 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 15% 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