Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Naperville, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Gothenburg: $2,044 a month against $2,821 in Naperville, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Gothenburg
🇸🇪 Sweden
$2,044
/mo nomad
Naperville, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,821
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gothenburg and in Naperville, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gothenburg and in Naperville, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,044 in Gothenburg versus $2,821 in Naperville, IL.

  • Gothenburg $2,044
  • Naperville, IL $2,821

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,078 in Gothenburg versus $3,974 in Naperville, IL.

  • Gothenburg $3,078
  • Naperville, IL $3,974

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,113 in Gothenburg versus $5,127 in Naperville, IL.

  • Gothenburg $4,113
  • Naperville, IL $5,127

Living in Gothenburg costs roughly 28% less than in Naperville, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg 51% above, Naperville, IL 108% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.77 SEK 136
$14.01 $14.01
-1.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.4 SEK 866
$74.9 $74.9
16.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.41 SEK 123
$11.98 $11.98
3.59%
Cappuccino
$4.87 SEK 48.30
$5.27 $5.27
-7.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 SEK 28.62
$2.88 $2.88
0.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 SEK 23.76
$2.29 $2.29
4.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.03 SEK 69.6
$6.13 $6.13
14.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.69 SEK 76.2
$8.45 $8.45
-8.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 SEK 16.58
$0.78 $0.78
114.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.70 SEK 26.73
$2.85 $2.85
-5.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.16 SEK 31.32
$2.95 $2.95
7.12%
Eggs
$3.86 SEK 38.28
$3.52 $3.52
9.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.53 SEK 114
$7.74 $7.74
48.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.57 SEK 115
$11.46 $11.46
0.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.35 SEK 162
$10.49 $10.49
55.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 SEK 29.92
$5.49 $5.49
-44.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.41 SEK 23.90
$1.66 $1.66
45.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.00 SEK 29.77
$3.47 $3.47
-13.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.45 SEK 44.10
$5.37 $5.37
-17.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 SEK 17.51
$1.70 $1.70
4.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.70 SEK 16.80
$3.35 $3.35
-49.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 SEK 20.22
$1.69 $1.69
20.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 SEK 16.05
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.32 SEK 82.4
$12.21 $12.21
-31.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.06 SEK 149
$8.21 $8.21
83.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 SEK 20.21
$1.76 $1.76
15.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 SEK 22.24
$3.99 $3.99
-43.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.84 SEK 38.05
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.5 SEK 867
$130 $130
-32.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.33 SEK 62.7
$5.61 $5.61
12.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 SEK 16.38
$2.91 $2.91
-43.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$59.6 SEK 591
$17.46 $17.46
241.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 SEK 17.28
$1.08 $1.08
61.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K SEK 336.0K
$24.4K $24.4K
38.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0K SEK 337.3K
$25.8K $25.8K
32.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 SEK 1,046
$173 $173
-39.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.51 SEK 193
$52.4 $52.4
-62.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.69 SEK 334
$51.6 $51.6
-34.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.23 SEK 349
$70.7 $70.7
-50.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.38 SEK 242
$15.09 $15.09
61.56%
Cinema Ticket
$17.18 SEK 170
$11.99 $11.99
43.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$221 SEK 2,186
$1,477 $1,477
-85.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,412 SEK 43.7K
$12.7K $12.7K
-65.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2 SEK 883
$57.5 $57.5
54.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.97 SEK 327
$24.78 $24.78
33.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 SEK 874
$87.4 $87.4
1.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 SEK 1,301
$50.6 $50.6
159.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,046 SEK 10.4K
$2,037 $2,037
-48.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$908 SEK 8,998
$1,616 $1,616
-43.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,809 SEK 17.9K
$3,308 $3,308
-45.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,383 SEK 13.7K
$2,429 $2,429
-43.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,137 SEK 60.8K
$2,253 $2,253
172.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,523 SEK 34.9K
$2,241 $2,241
57.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,594 SEK 35.6K
$6,526 $6,526
-44.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.06
6.43
-52.41%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Gothenburg: October 18, 2026

Last update for Naperville, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
$908
Naperville, IL
$1.6K 78% $708
Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
$358
Naperville, IL
$304 * 15.1% $54
Eating Out
Gothenburg
$278
Naperville, IL
$280 0.7% $2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
$159
Naperville, IL
$277 74.5% $118
Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
$154
Naperville, IL
$99 35.5% $55
Getting Around
Gothenburg
$117
Naperville, IL
$150 * 27.7% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
$70
Naperville, IL
$95 36% $25

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,046 in Gothenburg and $2,037 in Naperville, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Naperville, IL pays 82% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $87.0 in Gothenburg vs $75.0 in Naperville, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $358 vs $304 per month, with Naperville, IL cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Gothenburg
🇺🇸 Naperville, IL
🕒 Local time
05:17 5:17 AM
22:17 10:17 PM
7 h behind Gothenburg
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
607,882
149,540
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gothenburg Naperville, IL 6,720 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Gothenburg
  • Naperville, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Naperville, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gothenburg or Naperville, IL?
Gothenburg wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Naperville, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gothenburg the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Gothenburg or in Naperville, IL?
On paper, salaries run 82% lower in Naperville, IL. 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 Naperville, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,046 in Gothenburg versus $2,037 in Naperville, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Gothenburg and in Naperville, IL?
Childcare runs $221 in Gothenburg versus $1,477 in Naperville, IL. 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 Naperville, IL?
Shoppers in Naperville, IL pay roughly 18% 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 in Naperville, IL?
At $2,044 in Gothenburg versus $2,821 in Naperville, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gothenburg but tight or insufficient in Naperville, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Gothenburg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gothenburg or Naperville, IL?
Both work as nomad bases, but Gothenburg delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,044 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Gothenburg hard to pass up.
How safe is Gothenburg compared to Naperville, IL?
Safety-wise, Gothenburg and Naperville, IL 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 Gothenburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Naperville, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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