😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,128 in Gothenburg versus $1,688 in Marsta.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,175 in Gothenburg versus $2,656 in Marsta.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,222 in Gothenburg versus $3,623 in Marsta.
🌍Living in Gothenburg is roughly 26% more expensive than in Marsta, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg55% above, Marsta23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.76SEK 132
$13.84SEK 132
-0.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.9SEK 879
$69.7SEK 667
31.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.84SEK 123
$10.66SEK 102
20.45%
Cappuccino
$5.06SEK 48.44
$4.64SEK 44.42
9.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94SEK 28.14
$2.15SEK 20.57
36.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19SEK 20.94
$1.94SEK 18.53
12.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.18SEK 68.7
$7.27SEK 69.6
-1.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86SEK 75.2
$7.31SEK 70.0
7.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80SEK 17.19
$1.77SEK 16.96
1.69%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77SEK 26.50
$3.30SEK 31.54
-16.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.17SEK 30.28
$5.63SEK 53.9
-43.69%
Eggs
$4.10SEK 39.18
$3.73SEK 35.64
9.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.10SEK 116
$13.87SEK 133
-12.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.67SEK 112
$9.68SEK 92.6
20.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.76SEK 170
$17.85SEK 171
-0.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23SEK 30.88
$3.20SEK 30.58
0.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64SEK 25.25
$2.71SEK 25.92
-2.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.22SEK 30.79
$2.09SEK 19.97
54.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.37SEK 41.82
$3.96SEK 37.92
10.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82SEK 17.41
$1.56SEK 14.91
16.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68SEK 16.02
$1.62SEK 15.49
3.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03SEK 19.38
$2.08SEK 19.89
-2.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78SEK 17.01
$1.92SEK 18.38
-7.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.50SEK 81.3
$7.27SEK 69.5
16.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.55SEK 139
$10.23SEK 97.9
42.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20SEK 21.02
$2.04SEK 19.50
7.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38SEK 22.76
$2.15SEK 20.55
10.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.85SEK 36.81
$3.58SEK 34.28
7.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.8SEK 849
$82.1SEK 785
8.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.45SEK 61.7
$13.80SEK 132
-53.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73SEK 16.50
$2.13SEK 20.33
-18.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.3SEK 586
$58.9SEK 563
4.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90SEK 18.22
$1.83SEK 17.49
3.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KSEK 324.8K
$34.1KSEK 325.8K
-0.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 328.6K
$34.1KSEK 326.3K
0.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110SEK 1,052
$61.9SEK 593
77.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.66SEK 188
$28.06SEK 268
-29.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.30SEK 347
$41.61SEK 398
-12.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.94SEK 363
$38.98SEK 373
-2.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.89SEK 248
$26.96SEK 258
-3.97%
Cinema Ticket
$19.34SEK 185
$16.55SEK 158
16.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$230SEK 2,196
$226SEK 2,158
1.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,554SEK 43.6K
$5,271SEK 50.4K
-13.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0SEK 870
$53.2SEK 509
70.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.36SEK 329
$31.97SEK 306
7.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0SEK 900
$96.7SEK 925
-2.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135SEK 1,294
$107SEK 1,024
26.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,061SEK 10.2K
$836SEK 7,994
26.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$961SEK 9,192
$618SEK 5,908
55.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,849SEK 17.7K
$1,416SEK 13.5K
30.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,440SEK 13.8K
$1,073SEK 10.3K
34.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,496SEK 62.1K
$4,305SEK 41.2K
50.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,613SEK 34.6K
$2,983SEK 28.5K
21.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Marsta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,639SEK 34.8K
$4,958SEK 47.4K
-26.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.06
3.2
-4.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gothenburg: August 31, 2026
Last update for Marsta: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,061 in Gothenburg and $836 in Marsta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Marsta pays 36% 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 $70.0 in Marsta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 vs $366 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 26% 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 36% 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: $1,061 in Gothenburg versus $836 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 $230 in Gothenburg versus $226 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 2% 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 $1,688 in Marsta versus $2,128 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 $1,688 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 26% 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