😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,072 in Gothenburg versus $1,618 in Ludvika.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,179 in Gothenburg versus $2,698 in Ludvika.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,287 in Gothenburg versus $3,778 in Ludvika.
😐Living in Gothenburg is roughly 28% more expensive than Ludvika, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg54% above, Ludvika20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.87SEK 130
$13.41SEK 126
3.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.6SEK 849
$69.1SEK 648
31.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.44SEK 98.0
$10.65SEK 99.9
-1.97%
Cappuccino
$4.93SEK 46.25
$4.61SEK 43.29
6.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96SEK 27.81
$2.83SEK 26.56
4.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63SEK 24.67
$2.48SEK 23.25
6.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.35SEK 68.9
$7.51SEK 70.5
-2.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.88SEK 73.9
$7.36SEK 69.0
7.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74SEK 16.35
$1.86SEK 17.42
-6.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.91SEK 27.27
$2.80SEK 26.27
3.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.31SEK 31.02
$4.08SEK 38.31
-18.87%
Eggs
$4.43SEK 41.55
$4.07SEK 38.13
8.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.64SEK 109
$14.15SEK 133
-17.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.52SEK 117
$14.81SEK 139
-15.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01SEK 178
$15.67SEK 147
21.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12SEK 29.30
$3.54SEK 33.24
-11.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.74SEK 25.67
$2.71SEK 25.43
1.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.88SEK 27.00
$3.89SEK 36.53
-25.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.18SEK 39.18
$4.34SEK 40.71
-3.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66SEK 15.57
$1.57SEK 14.71
5.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.92SEK 17.97
$2.09SEK 19.65
-8.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.32SEK 21.72
$2.57SEK 24.10
-9.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63SEK 15.25
$1.60SEK 15.03
1.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.84SEK 73.6
$7.45SEK 69.9
5.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.97SEK 140
$10.64SEK 99.8
40.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23SEK 20.93
$1.70SEK 15.99
31.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53SEK 23.77
$1.94SEK 18.23
30.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.81SEK 35.72
$3.24SEK 30.38
17.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.0SEK 826
$54.3SEK 509
62.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.12SEK 94.9
$14.58SEK 137
-30.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60SEK 15.01
$1.66SEK 15.58
-3.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.6SEK 588
$21.27SEK 200
194.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94SEK 18.24
$1.88SEK 17.60
3.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KSEK 303.3K
$32.5KSEK 305.1K
-0.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6KSEK 333.6K
$34.1KSEK 319.8K
4.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141SEK 1,318
$88.2SEK 827
59.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19SEK 236
$20.75SEK 195
21.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.13SEK 367
$36.44SEK 342
7.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15SEK 395
$31.02SEK 291
35.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.07SEK 235
$52.9SEK 496
-52.61%
Cinema Ticket
$17.71SEK 166
$15.73SEK 148
12.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$178SEK 1,669
$146SEK 1,366
22.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,090SEK 38.4K
$748SEK 7,020
446.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.1SEK 817
$104SEK 971
-15.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.25SEK 368
$43.81SEK 411
-10.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.4SEK 913
$114SEK 1,067
-14.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153SEK 1,434
$157SEK 1,471
-2.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,120SEK 10.5K
$473SEK 4,434
136.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$852SEK 7,988
$459SEK 4,303
85.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,887SEK 17.7K
$1,010SEK 9,472
86.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,403SEK 13.2K
$1,003SEK 9,408
39.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,604SEK 61.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,695SEK 34.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Ludvika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,705SEK 34.8K
$3,969SEK 37.2K
-6.66%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Ludvika: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,120 in Gothenburg and $473 in Ludvika. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ludvika pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $91.0 in Gothenburg vs $69.0 in Ludvika. Groceries flip the comparison at $380 vs $386, 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 28% 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 7% 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: $1,120 in Gothenburg versus $473 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 $178 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 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Gothenburg or Ludvika?
At $1,618 in Ludvika versus $2,072 in Gothenburg, a $2,000 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 $1,618 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 28% 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