Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Marsta Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Marsta

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Gothenburg 54% above, Marsta 34% above.

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

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