😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,063 in Gothenburg versus $1,796 in Marsta.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,240 in Gothenburg versus $2,752 in Marsta.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,417 in Gothenburg versus $3,707 in Marsta.
🌍Living in Gothenburg is roughly 15% more expensive than in Marsta, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg54% above, Marsta34% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.74SEK 133
$13.44SEK 130
2.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.2SEK 882
$67.8SEK 655
34.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.42SEK 101
$10.56SEK 102
-1.33%
Cappuccino
$4.86SEK 46.95
$4.65SEK 44.94
4.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08SEK 29.74
$2.17SEK 20.97
41.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56SEK 24.77
$1.85SEK 17.90
38.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.43SEK 71.8
$7.43SEK 71.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72SEK 74.6
$7.40SEK 71.5
4.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76SEK 17.00
$1.84SEK 17.76
-4.35%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87SEK 27.78
$3.22SEK 31.11
-10.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.34SEK 32.30
$4.10SEK 39.61
-18.54%
Eggs
$4.63SEK 44.80
$3.88SEK 37.52
19.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.67SEK 113
$13.93SEK 135
-16.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.41SEK 120
$9.31SEK 90.0
33.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.65SEK 180
$15.95SEK 154
16.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07SEK 29.72
$3.65SEK 35.28
-15.89%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64SEK 25.56
$2.57SEK 24.88
2.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.93SEK 28.30
$3.18SEK 30.73
-7.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.31SEK 41.67
$3.93SEK 37.99
9.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76SEK 16.97
$1.56SEK 15.04
12.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87SEK 18.10
$1.55SEK 14.96
20.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22SEK 21.42
$2.69SEK 26.05
-17.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59SEK 15.38
$1.66SEK 16.08
-4.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.94SEK 76.8
$7.50SEK 72.5
5.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.36SEK 139
$10.07SEK 97.3
42.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20SEK 21.25
$1.77SEK 17.07
24.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53SEK 24.44
$1.95SEK 18.85
29.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.92SEK 37.94
$4.21SEK 40.67
-6.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.9SEK 879
$99.5SEK 962
-8.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.16SEK 98.2
$12.23SEK 118
-16.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67SEK 16.10
$1.60SEK 15.50
4.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.6SEK 595
$59.0SEK 570
4.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96SEK 18.95
$2.00SEK 19.38
-2.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KSEK 311.1K
$32.8KSEK 316.9K
-1.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6KSEK 343.7K
$33.9KSEK 327.7K
4.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$140SEK 1,356
$89.9SEK 869
56.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.00SEK 242
$28.60SEK 276
-12.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.56SEK 373
$36.12SEK 349
6.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.38SEK 400
$29.03SEK 281
42.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.81SEK 240
$25.08SEK 242
-1.08%
Cinema Ticket
$18.04SEK 174
$15.68SEK 152
15.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$178SEK 1,719
$145SEK 1,402
22.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,177SEK 40.4K
$734SEK 7,092
469.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5SEK 866
$77.7SEK 751
15.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39SEK 381
$43.80SEK 423
-10.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.4SEK 922
$100.0SEK 966
-4.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153SEK 1,474
$107SEK 1,038
42.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,096SEK 10.6K
$826SEK 7,983
32.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$860SEK 8,314
$646SEK 6,242
33.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,875SEK 18.1K
$1,368SEK 13.2K
37.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,404SEK 13.6K
$1,071SEK 10.4K
31.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,493SEK 62.8K
$3,511SEK 33.9K
84.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,504SEK 33.9K
$3,149SEK 30.4K
11.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,590SEK 34.7K
$4,836SEK 46.7K
-25.76%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Marsta: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,096 in Gothenburg and $826 in Marsta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Marsta pays 35% 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 $68.0 in Marsta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $356 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 15% 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 in Marsta?
On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Marsta. 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 Marsta?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,096 in Gothenburg versus $826 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 in Marsta?
Childcare runs $178 in Gothenburg versus $145 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 in 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 in Marsta?
At $1,796 in Marsta versus $2,063 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 $1,796 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 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