😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,068 in Gothenburg versus $1,564 in Ludvika.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,219 in Gothenburg versus $2,659 in Ludvika.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,369 in Gothenburg versus $3,753 in Ludvika.
🌍Living in Gothenburg is roughly 32% more expensive than in Ludvika, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg55% above, Ludvika18% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.85SEK 132
$13.27SEK 126
4.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.8SEK 882
$68.0SEK 646
36.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.57SEK 100
$10.73SEK 102
-1.49%
Cappuccino
$4.95SEK 47.04
$4.66SEK 44.31
6.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04SEK 28.90
$2.83SEK 26.84
7.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66SEK 25.25
$2.38SEK 22.65
11.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.42SEK 70.5
$7.35SEK 69.9
0.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.01SEK 76.1
$7.57SEK 72.0
5.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68SEK 15.96
$1.83SEK 17.40
-8.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.89SEK 27.43
$2.79SEK 26.54
3.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.33SEK 31.65
$3.99SEK 37.92
-16.54%
Eggs
$4.49SEK 42.68
$4.06SEK 38.59
10.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.70SEK 111
$13.82SEK 131
-15.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.25SEK 116
$14.51SEK 138
-15.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.65SEK 177
$15.63SEK 148
19.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.06SEK 29.10
$3.65SEK 34.66
-16.16%
Banana(1kg)
$2.73SEK 25.91
$2.66SEK 25.23
2.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.99SEK 28.45
$3.94SEK 37.43
-24.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.16SEK 39.48
$4.27SEK 40.61
-2.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74SEK 16.55
$1.51SEK 14.33
15.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94SEK 18.42
$2.15SEK 20.42
-9.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.23SEK 21.20
$2.71SEK 25.71
-17.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60SEK 15.18
$1.58SEK 15.04
1.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.91SEK 75.1
$7.36SEK 70.0
7.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.41SEK 137
$10.15SEK 96.4
41.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27SEK 21.57
$1.80SEK 17.10
26.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53SEK 24.02
$1.95SEK 18.56
29.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.87SEK 36.79
$3.19SEK 30.27
21.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.6SEK 851
$53.7SEK 510
66.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.31SEK 98.0
$14.32SEK 136
-28.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60SEK 15.23
$1.66SEK 15.76
-3.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.1SEK 590
$20.69SEK 197
200.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93SEK 18.34
$1.80SEK 17.07
7.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KSEK 305.9K
$32.6KSEK 309.3K
-1.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KSEK 332.3K
$33.8KSEK 320.9K
3.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$136SEK 1,290
$89.9SEK 854
51.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.35SEK 241
$20.86SEK 198
21.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.47SEK 375
$36.46SEK 346
8.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.88SEK 388
$31.63SEK 300
29.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.69SEK 235
$53.5SEK 508
-53.82%
Cinema Ticket
$18.13SEK 172
$15.66SEK 149
15.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$176SEK 1,676
$145SEK 1,379
21.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,094SEK 38.9K
$734SEK 6,969
458.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.0SEK 855
$103SEK 982
-12.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.38SEK 374
$43.56SEK 414
-9.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.3SEK 924
$115SEK 1,090
-15.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155SEK 1,477
$153SEK 1,449
1.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,136SEK 10.8K
$483SEK 4,584
135.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$859SEK 8,162
$448SEK 4,254
91.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,855SEK 17.6K
$1,008SEK 9,580
83.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,440SEK 13.7K
$989SEK 9,397
45.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,400SEK 60.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,577SEK 34.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,689SEK 35.0K
$3,839SEK 36.5K
-3.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
4
8.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gothenburg: July 27, 2026
Last update for Ludvika: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,136 in Gothenburg and $483 in Ludvika. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ludvika pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $93.0 in Gothenburg vs $68.0 in Ludvika. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $383, 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 Ludvika: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gothenburg or Ludvika?
Ludvika wins on cost – living expenses run 32% lower than in Gothenburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ludvika the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Gothenburg or in Ludvika?
On paper, salaries run 4% lower in Ludvika. 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 Ludvika?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,136 in Gothenburg versus $483 in Ludvika. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Gothenburg and in Ludvika?
Childcare runs $176 in Gothenburg versus $145 in Ludvika. 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 Ludvika?
Shoppers in Gothenburg pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Gothenburg or in Ludvika?
At $1,564 in Ludvika versus $2,068 in Gothenburg, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ludvika but tight or insufficient in Gothenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Ludvika the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gothenburg or Ludvika?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ludvika delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,564 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ludvika hard to pass up.
How safe is Gothenburg compared to Ludvika?
Safety-wise, Gothenburg and Ludvika 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 Ludvika gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% 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