😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,120 in Gothenburg versus $1,578 in Ludvika.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,250 in Gothenburg versus $2,652 in Ludvika.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,380 in Gothenburg versus $3,725 in Ludvika.
😐Living in Gothenburg is roughly 34% more expensive than Ludvika, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg58% above, Ludvika18% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.54SEK 126
$13.13SEK 122
3.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.2SEK 857
$67.3SEK 626
36.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41SEK 96.8
$10.49SEK 97.5
-0.76%
Cappuccino
$5.01SEK 46.57
$4.53SEK 42.11
10.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11SEK 28.92
$2.73SEK 25.37
13.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52SEK 23.40
$2.48SEK 23.07
1.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.47SEK 69.5
$7.36SEK 68.4
1.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86SEK 73.1
$7.57SEK 70.4
3.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68SEK 15.62
$1.83SEK 17.04
-8.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.99SEK 27.77
$2.69SEK 24.99
11.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.26SEK 30.29
$4.08SEK 37.92
-20.10%
Eggs
$4.45SEK 41.40
$3.89SEK 36.17
14.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.52SEK 107
$14.16SEK 132
-18.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.21SEK 114
$14.73SEK 137
-17.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.59SEK 173
$15.83SEK 147
17.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.19SEK 29.64
$3.48SEK 32.39
-8.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.70SEK 25.09
$2.58SEK 23.98
4.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.00SEK 27.87
$3.85SEK 35.79
-22.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.33SEK 40.27
$4.45SEK 41.37
-2.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67SEK 15.56
$1.51SEK 14.08
10.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89SEK 17.54
$2.10SEK 19.51
-10.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.23SEK 20.76
$2.67SEK 24.82
-16.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61SEK 14.98
$1.60SEK 14.91
0.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.02SEK 74.6
$7.26SEK 67.5
10.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.58SEK 117
$10.65SEK 99.0
18.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26SEK 21.06
$1.71SEK 15.92
32.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50SEK 23.22
$1.95SEK 18.10
28.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.98SEK 36.98
$3.10SEK 28.86
28.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.6SEK 824
$54.3SEK 505
63.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.11SEK 94.0
$14.39SEK 134
-29.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59SEK 14.79
$1.65SEK 15.37
-3.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.3SEK 579
$21.06SEK 196
195.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94SEK 18.01
$1.90SEK 17.66
2.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KSEK 299.4K
$32.3KSEK 300.0K
-0.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KSEK 325.2K
$34.4KSEK 319.5K
1.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$139SEK 1,295
$88.9SEK 826
56.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.22SEK 235
$20.76SEK 193
21.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.47SEK 367
$36.42SEK 339
8.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.17SEK 392
$31.76SEK 295
32.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.32SEK 235
$53.5SEK 497
-52.66%
Cinema Ticket
$17.60SEK 164
$15.81SEK 147
11.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$175SEK 1,623
$146SEK 1,360
19.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,140SEK 38.5K
$725SEK 6,744
470.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.0SEK 818
$105SEK 979
-16.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.75SEK 370
$43.89SEK 408
-9.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.2SEK 913
$116SEK 1,079
-15.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,452
$156SEK 1,448
0.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,104SEK 10.3K
$472SEK 4,390
133.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$876SEK 8,150
$448SEK 4,164
95.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,865SEK 17.3K
$987SEK 9,182
88.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,414SEK 13.1K
$990SEK 9,211
42.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,531SEK 60.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,920SEK 36.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,025SEK 37.4K
$4,113SEK 38.3K
-2.15%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ludvika: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,104 in Gothenburg and $472 in Ludvika. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ludvika pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $92.0 in Gothenburg vs $67.0 in Ludvika. Groceries flip the comparison at $373 vs $384, 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 34% 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 Ludvika?
On paper, Ludvika earns 2% less. 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 vs Ludvika?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,104 in Gothenburg versus $472 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 Ludvika?
Childcare runs $175 in Gothenburg versus $146 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 Ludvika?
Shoppers in Gothenburg pay roughly 3% 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 Ludvika?
At $1,578 in Ludvika versus $2,120 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 $1,578 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 34% 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