๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,113 in Gothenburg versus $2,953 in Naperville, IL.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,197 in Gothenburg versus $4,054 in Naperville, IL.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,282 in Gothenburg versus $5,156 in Naperville, IL.
๐Living in Gothenburg costs roughly 28% less than in Naperville, IL, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg58% above, Naperville, IL120% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.60SEKย 125
$15.19$15.19
-10.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.0SEKย 846
$60.9$60.9
51.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.52SEKย 96.8
$10.18$10.18
3.34%
Cappuccino
$4.96SEKย 45.68
$4.14$4.14
19.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07SEKย 28.25
$2.31$2.31
32.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63SEKย 24.19
$2.33$2.33
12.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.58SEKย 69.8
$4.18$4.18
81.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.97SEKย 73.3
$6.11$6.11
30.44%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71SEKย 15.73
$0.76$0.76
125.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.01SEKย 27.66
$4.55$4.55
-33.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.32SEKย 30.54
$3.34$3.34
-0.60%
Eggs
$4.62SEKย 42.53
$4.79$4.79
-3.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.58SEKย 107
$7.52$7.52
53.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.56SEKย 116
$10.84$10.84
15.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.93SEKย 174
$11.27$11.27
67.97%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18SEKย 29.26
$5.61$5.61
-43.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.68SEKย 24.66
$1.69$1.69
58.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.94SEKย 27.04
$2.94$2.94
-
Tomato(1kg)
$4.21SEKย 38.75
$3.42$3.42
23.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.72SEKย 15.83
$1.28$1.28
34.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93SEKย 17.73
$2.37$2.37
-18.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.27SEKย 20.90
$1.61$1.61
40.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54SEKย 14.19
$1.46$1.46
5.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.85SEKย 72.2
$8.37$8.37
-6.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.53SEKย 115
$8.01$8.01
56.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25SEKย 20.70
$1.75$1.75
28.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58SEKย 23.78
$3.70$3.70
-30.27%
๐ Getting Around
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.96SEKย 36.44
$5.85$5.85
-32.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.6SEKย 815
$130$130
-31.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.46SEKย 96.3
$5.08$5.08
105.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67SEKย 15.35
$1.75$1.75
-4.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.0SEKย 580
$49.70$49.70
26.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEKย 17.43
$0.90$0.90
110.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0KSEKย 303.4K
$24.7K$24.7K
33.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KSEKย 321.9K
$25.3K$25.3K
38.21%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141SEKย 1,294
$174$174
-19.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.24SEKย 232
$51.4$51.4
-50.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.61SEKย 355
$51.6$51.6
-25.15%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.96SEKย 377
$102$102
-59.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.80SEKย 228
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.54SEKย 161
$11.11$11.11
57.88%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$175SEKย 1,614
$939$939
-81.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,120SEKย 37.9K
$23.7K$23.7K
-82.64%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.5SEKย 805
$45.60$45.60
91.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.39SEKย 372
$46.67$46.67
-13.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.5SEKย 897
$67.9$67.9
43.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154SEKย 1,414
$99.4$99.4
54.66%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,104SEKย 10.2K
$1,987$1,987
-44.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$870SEKย 8,005
$1,685$1,685
-48.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,885SEKย 17.3K
$3,338$3,338
-43.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,403SEKย 12.9K
$2,406$2,406
-41.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,641SEKย 61.1K
$2,220$2,220
199.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,944SEKย 36.3K
$2,177$2,177
81.21%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,970SEKย 36.5K
$6,566$6,566
-39.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
6.52
-33.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gothenburg: April 21, 2026
Last update for Naperville, IL: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,104 in Gothenburg and $1,987 in Naperville, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐNaperville, IL pays 65% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $92 in Gothenburg vs $61 in Naperville, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $328 per month, with Naperville, IL 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 Naperville, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gothenburg or Naperville, IL?
Gothenburg wins on cost โ living expenses run 40% 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 Naperville, IL?
On paper, Naperville, IL earns 65% 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 Naperville, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,104 in Gothenburg versus $1,987 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 Naperville, IL?
Childcare runs $175 in Gothenburg versus $939 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 Naperville, IL?
Shoppers in Naperville, IL pay roughly 15% 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 Naperville, IL?
At $2,113 in Gothenburg versus $2,953 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 โ similar infrastructure at $2,113 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 โ expenses run 40% less than in Naperville, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Gothenburg vs other spots: cost of living compared