😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,058 in Gothenburg versus $1,773 in Marsta.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,193 in Gothenburg versus $2,754 in Marsta.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,328 in Gothenburg versus $3,736 in Marsta.
😐Living in Gothenburg is roughly 16% more expensive than Marsta, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg54% above, Marsta32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.74SEK 128
$13.42SEK 125
2.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.9SEK 876
$67.7SEK 631
38.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.34SEK 96.5
$10.53SEK 98.2
-1.80%
Cappuccino
$4.73SEK 44.18
$4.55SEK 42.47
3.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97SEK 27.70
$2.08SEK 19.39
42.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53SEK 23.64
$1.93SEK 17.98
31.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.26SEK 67.8
$7.24SEK 67.6
0.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72SEK 72.0
$7.17SEK 66.9
7.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68SEK 15.67
$1.83SEK 17.11
-8.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.85SEK 26.62
$3.08SEK 28.75
-7.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.32SEK 30.95
$4.05SEK 37.79
-18.02%
Eggs
$4.65SEK 43.41
$3.88SEK 36.18
19.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.80SEK 110
$14.30SEK 133
-17.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.61SEK 118
$9.59SEK 89.5
31.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.02SEK 178
$15.59SEK 146
22.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10SEK 28.92
$3.63SEK 33.85
-14.60%
Banana(1kg)
$2.74SEK 25.54
$2.61SEK 24.38
4.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91SEK 27.11
$3.25SEK 30.31
-10.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.18SEK 38.96
$3.98SEK 37.18
5.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66SEK 15.50
$1.51SEK 14.07
9.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85SEK 17.25
$1.56SEK 14.51
18.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.27SEK 21.22
$2.70SEK 25.16
-15.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55SEK 14.46
$1.66SEK 15.51
-6.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.82SEK 73.0
$7.43SEK 69.3
5.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.32SEK 143
$10.72SEK 100
42.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26SEK 21.08
$1.72SEK 16.06
31.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61SEK 24.32
$1.95SEK 18.20
33.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.80SEK 35.45
$4.13SEK 38.51
-7.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.6SEK 827
$99.7SEK 930
-11.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.11SEK 94.3
$12.20SEK 114
-17.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66SEK 15.48
$1.61SEK 14.99
3.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.7SEK 576
$58.5SEK 546
5.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 17.64
$1.94SEK 18.14
-2.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KSEK 298.9K
$32.4KSEK 302.4K
-1.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 321.6K
$34.1KSEK 317.8K
1.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138SEK 1,292
$89.7SEK 837
54.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.95SEK 233
$28.76SEK 268
-13.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.25SEK 357
$37.07SEK 346
3.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.78SEK 390
$29.18SEK 272
43.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.26SEK 236
$25.76SEK 240
-1.94%
Cinema Ticket
$17.98SEK 168
$16.13SEK 150
11.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$175SEK 1,637
$142SEK 1,326
23.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,215SEK 39.3K
$730SEK 6,813
477.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.6SEK 817
$77.6SEK 724
12.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.28SEK 376
$43.01SEK 401
-6.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.9SEK 904
$98.4SEK 918
-1.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,458
$105SEK 983
48.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,125SEK 10.5K
$856SEK 7,986
31.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$873SEK 8,148
$649SEK 6,057
34.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,917SEK 17.9K
$1,382SEK 12.9K
38.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,434SEK 13.4K
$1,086SEK 10.1K
32.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,696SEK 62.5K
$4,378SEK 40.8K
52.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,764SEK 35.1K
$3,283SEK 30.6K
14.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,953SEK 36.9K
$4,995SEK 46.6K
-20.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
4.53
-4.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gothenburg: June 2, 2026
Last update for Marsta: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Gothenburg and $856 in Marsta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Marsta pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $94.0 in Gothenburg vs $68.0 in Marsta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $381 vs $358 per month, with Marsta 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 Marsta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gothenburg or Marsta?
Marsta wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Gothenburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Marsta the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Gothenburg or Marsta?
On paper, Marsta earns 26% 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 Marsta?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Gothenburg versus $856 in Marsta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Gothenburg and Marsta?
Childcare runs $175 in Gothenburg versus $142 in Marsta. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Gothenburg or Marsta?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Gothenburg. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Gothenburg or Marsta?
At $1,773 in Marsta versus $2,058 in Gothenburg, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Marsta but tight or insufficient in Gothenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Marsta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gothenburg or Marsta?
Both work as nomad bases, but Marsta delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,773 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Marsta hard to pass up.
How safe is Gothenburg compared to Marsta?
Safety-wise, Gothenburg and Marsta 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 Marsta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% 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