Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gothenburg and Ostersund

For one person, living is cheaper in Ostersund: $1,761 a month against $2,071 in Gothenburg, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Gothenburg, Sweden
Ostersund, Sweden
Gothenburg
🇸🇪 Sweden
$2,071
/mo nomad
Ostersund
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,761
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gothenburg and in Ostersund

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 Ostersund actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,071 in Gothenburg versus $1,761 in Ostersund.

  • Gothenburg $2,071
  • Ostersund $1,761

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,124 in Gothenburg versus $2,732 in Ostersund.

  • Gothenburg $3,124
  • Ostersund $2,732

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,177 in Gothenburg versus $3,703 in Ostersund.

  • Gothenburg $4,177
  • Ostersund $3,703

Living in Gothenburg is roughly 18% more expensive than in Ostersund, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg 53% above, Ostersund 30% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Ostersund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.68 SEK 134
$14.51 SEK 142
-5.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.5 SEK 878
$68.6 SEK 673
30.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.22 SEK 120
$9.03 SEK 88.6
35.33%
Cappuccino
$5.08 SEK 49.84
$4.35 SEK 42.71
16.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 SEK 30.68
$2.57 SEK 25.21
21.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 SEK 23.69
$2.03 SEK 19.89
18.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.97 SEK 68.4
$7.80 SEK 76.6
-10.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.44 SEK 73.0
$7.36 SEK 72.3
1.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Ostersund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 SEK 16.26
$1.44 SEK 14.13
15.28%
White Bread (500g)
$2.85 SEK 28.00
$3.03 SEK 29.74
-5.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.29 SEK 32.27
$4.78 SEK 46.89
-31.17%
Eggs
$3.99 SEK 39.20
$3.34 SEK 32.72
19.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.61 SEK 114
$13.80 SEK 135
-15.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.57 SEK 114
$11.78 SEK 116
-1.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.35 SEK 170
$15.72 SEK 154
10.37%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 SEK 30.77
$4.30 SEK 42.22
-26.98%
Banana (1kg)
$2.54 SEK 24.95
$2.92 SEK 28.66
-13.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 SEK 29.38
$3.53 SEK 34.64
-15.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.38 SEK 42.94
$4.21 SEK 41.28
4.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 SEK 17.60
$1.61 SEK 15.78
11.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.65 SEK 16.20
$1.61 SEK 15.84
2.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 SEK 19.61
$2.33 SEK 22.86
-14.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 SEK 17.47
$1.56 SEK 15.31
14.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.82 SEK 86.5
$7.70 SEK 75.6
14.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.59 SEK 153
$10.05 SEK 98.6
55.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 SEK 21.14
$2.15 SEK 21.08
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 SEK 22.70
$2.27 SEK 22.32
1.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Ostersund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.76 SEK 36.91
$3.26 SEK 32.01
15.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.5 SEK 849
$76.3 SEK 748
13.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 SEK 59.8
$6.12 SEK 60.1
-0.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 SEK 16.55
$1.69 SEK 16.57
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.6 SEK 595
$60.8 SEK 596
-0.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.79 SEK 17.54
$1.78 SEK 17.47
0.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K SEK 333.3K
$30.7K SEK 301.0K
10.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3K SEK 336.1K
$36.5K SEK 358.0K
-6.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Ostersund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 SEK 1,040
$118 SEK 1,154
-9.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.04 SEK 197
$23.84 SEK 234
-15.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.75 SEK 341
$39.29 SEK 385
-11.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Ostersund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.18 SEK 345
$37.62 SEK 369
-6.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.00 SEK 245
$26.52 SEK 260
-5.73%
Cinema Ticket
$17.13 SEK 168
$15.13 SEK 148
13.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Ostersund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$227 SEK 2,229
$127 SEK 1,243
79.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,683 SEK 46.0K
$5,587 SEK 54.8K
-16.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Ostersund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.9 SEK 891
$93.2 SEK 915
-2.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.24 SEK 336
$42.48 SEK 417
-19.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 SEK 868
$79.4 SEK 779
11.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 SEK 1,313
$142 SEK 1,395
-5.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Ostersund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,133 SEK 11.1K
$812 SEK 7,971
39.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$921 SEK 9,038
$610 SEK 5,987
50.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,921 SEK 18.9K
$1,394 SEK 13.7K
37.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 SEK 13.8K
$1,038 SEK 10.2K
35.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,721 SEK 65.9K
$3,784 SEK 37.1K
77.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,143 SEK 40.6K
$2,495 SEK 24.5K
66.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Ostersund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,665 SEK 36.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.06
3.38
-9.47%

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

Last update for Gothenburg: November 2, 2026

Last update for Ostersund: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
$921
Ostersund
$610 33.8% $311
Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
$368
Ostersund
$370 0.5% $1.9
Eating Out
Gothenburg
$279
Ostersund
$268 4.1% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
$161
Ostersund
$181 12.4% $20
Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
$156
Ostersund
$161 2.8% $4.4
Getting Around
Gothenburg
$116
Ostersund
$104 10.5% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
$69
Ostersund
$68 2.2% $1.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,133 in Gothenburg and $812 in Ostersund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $90 in Gothenburg vs $69 in Ostersund. Groceries flip the comparison at $368 vs $370, with Gothenburg cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Gothenburg
🇸🇪 Ostersund
🕒 Local time
08:43 8:43 AM
08:43 8:43 AM
Same time as Gothenburg
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
607,882
44,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 9.81 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 11.02 SEK (100 SEK = 9.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gothenburg Ostersund 630 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Gothenburg
  • Ostersund

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 Ostersund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gothenburg or Ostersund?
Ostersund wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Gothenburg. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Ostersund the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Gothenburg and in Ostersund?
You’d need roughly $3,107 in Gothenburg and $2,642 in Ostersund to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Gothenburg compared to Ostersund?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,133 in Gothenburg versus $812 in Ostersund. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Gothenburg and in Ostersund?
Childcare runs $227 in Gothenburg versus $127 in Ostersund. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Gothenburg and in Ostersund?
Dining out is cheaper in Ostersund – a meal for two runs $69 versus $90 in Gothenburg. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Gothenburg or in Ostersund?
Either city works on $2,500 a month, though Ostersund gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gothenburg or Ostersund?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ostersund delivers better value at $1,761 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ostersund hard to pass up.
How safe is Gothenburg compared to Ostersund?
Safety-wise, Gothenburg and Ostersund are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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