🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,128 in Gothenburg versus $2,865 in Naperville, IL.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,175 in Gothenburg versus $4,073 in Naperville, IL.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,222 in Gothenburg versus $5,280 in Naperville, IL.
🌍Living in Gothenburg costs roughly 26% less than in Naperville, IL, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg55% above, Naperville, IL109% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.76SEK 132
$14.09$14.09
-2.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.9SEK 879
$75.9$75.9
21.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.84SEK 123
$12.15$12.15
5.68%
Cappuccino
$5.06SEK 48.43
$5.19$5.19
-2.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94SEK 28.13
$2.94$2.94
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19SEK 20.93
$2.39$2.39
-8.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.18SEK 68.7
$5.98$5.98
20.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86SEK 75.2
$8.68$8.68
-9.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80SEK 17.18
$0.82$0.82
119.51%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77SEK 26.50
$2.88$2.88
-3.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.17SEK 30.28
$2.86$2.86
10.84%
Eggs
$4.10SEK 39.18
$3.52$3.52
16.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.10SEK 116
$7.94$7.94
52.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.67SEK 112
$11.20$11.20
4.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.76SEK 170
$10.40$10.40
70.77%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23SEK 30.88
$5.51$5.51
-41.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64SEK 25.25
$1.64$1.64
60.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.22SEK 30.78
$3.42$3.42
-5.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.37SEK 41.82
$5.54$5.54
-21.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82SEK 17.40
$1.78$1.78
2.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68SEK 16.02
$3.33$3.33
-49.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03SEK 19.38
$1.67$1.67
21.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78SEK 17.01
$3.04$3.04
-41.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.50SEK 81.3
$11.91$11.91
-28.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.55SEK 139
$8.26$8.26
76.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20SEK 21.01
$1.71$1.71
28.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38SEK 22.75
$4.60$4.60
-48.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.85SEK 36.80
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.8SEK 849
$128$128
-30.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.45SEK 61.7
$4.58$4.58
40.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73SEK 16.50
$2.84$2.84
-39.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.3SEK 586
$17.61$17.61
247.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90SEK 18.22
$1.02$1.02
86.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KSEK 324.8K
$24.2K$24.2K
40.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 328.6K
$25.4K$25.4K
35.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110SEK 1,052
$172$172
-35.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.66SEK 188
$52.5$52.5
-62.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.30SEK 347
$51.7$51.7
-29.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.94SEK 363
$69.7$69.7
-45.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.89SEK 248
$15.04$15.04
72.14%
Cinema Ticket
$19.34SEK 185
$11.99$11.99
61.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$230SEK 2,196
$1,508$1,508
-84.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,554SEK 43.6K
$12.6K$12.6K
-63.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0SEK 870
$57.3$57.3
58.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.36SEK 329
$33.26$33.26
3.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0SEK 899
$89.8$89.8
4.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135SEK 1,294
$100$100
35.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,061SEK 10.2K
$1,987$1,987
-46.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$961SEK 9,191
$1,635$1,635
-41.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,849SEK 17.7K
$3,275$3,275
-43.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,440SEK 13.8K
$2,480$2,480
-41.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,496SEK 62.1K
$2,248$2,248
188.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,613SEK 34.6K
$2,205$2,205
63.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Naperville, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,639SEK 34.8K
$6,715$6,715
-45.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.06
6.16
-50.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gothenburg: August 31, 2026
Last update for Naperville, IL: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,061 in Gothenburg and $1,987 in Naperville, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Naperville, IL pays 85% 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: $92.0 in Gothenburg vs $76.0 in Naperville, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 vs $342 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 – living expenses run 35% 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 85% 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: $1,061 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 in Naperville, IL?
Childcare runs $230 in Gothenburg versus $1,508 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 9% 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 $2,128 in Gothenburg versus $2,865 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 $2,128 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 35% 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