😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,128 in Gothenburg versus $1,807 in Sundsvall.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,175 in Gothenburg versus $2,745 in Sundsvall.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,222 in Gothenburg versus $3,684 in Sundsvall.
🌍Living in Gothenburg is roughly 18% more expensive than in Sundsvall, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg55% above, Sundsvall31% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Sundsvall
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.76SEK 131
$15.45SEK 147
-10.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.9SEK 876
$82.3SEK 784
11.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.84SEK 122
$11.47SEK 109
11.94%
Cappuccino
$5.06SEK 48.28
$4.86SEK 46.38
4.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94SEK 28.04
$2.51SEK 23.94
17.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19SEK 20.87
$1.98SEK 18.85
10.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.18SEK 68.5
$8.83SEK 84.2
-18.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86SEK 74.9
$7.85SEK 74.8
0.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Sundsvall
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80SEK 17.13
$1.56SEK 14.86
15.38%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77SEK 26.41
$3.07SEK 29.31
-9.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.17SEK 30.19
$3.69SEK 35.19
-14.09%
Eggs
$4.10SEK 39.06
$3.52SEK 33.61
16.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.10SEK 115
$10.03SEK 95.7
20.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.67SEK 111
$10.12SEK 96.5
15.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.76SEK 169
$18.16SEK 173
-2.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23SEK 30.78
$2.75SEK 26.19
17.45%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64SEK 25.17
$2.42SEK 23.11
9.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.22SEK 30.69
$2.61SEK 24.90
23.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.37SEK 41.69
$4.13SEK 39.35
5.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82SEK 17.35
$1.53SEK 14.58
18.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68SEK 15.97
$1.41SEK 13.44
19.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03SEK 19.32
$1.84SEK 17.57
10.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78SEK 16.95
$0.98SEK 9.30
81.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.50SEK 81.0
$7.78SEK 74.1
9.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.55SEK 139
$9.49SEK 90.5
53.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20SEK 20.95
$1.74SEK 16.59
26.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38SEK 22.68
$1.43SEK 13.62
66.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Sundsvall
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.85SEK 36.69
$3.51SEK 33.45
9.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.8SEK 847
$90.7SEK 865
-2.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.45SEK 61.5
$6.21SEK 59.2
3.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73SEK 16.45
$6.41SEK 61.1
-73.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.3SEK 584
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90SEK 18.16
$1.85SEK 17.60
2.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KSEK 323.8K
$32.2KSEK 307.0K
5.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 327.6K
$32.5KSEK 309.4K
5.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Sundsvall
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110SEK 1,049
$102SEK 976
7.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.66SEK 187
$29.85SEK 285
-34.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.30SEK 346
$31.63SEK 302
14.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Sundsvall
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.94SEK 362
$41.82SEK 399
-9.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.89SEK 247
$12.69SEK 121
104.02%
Cinema Ticket
$19.34SEK 184
$14.33SEK 137
34.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Sundsvall
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$230SEK 2,189
$145SEK 1,384
58.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,554SEK 43.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Sundsvall
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0SEK 867
$91.8SEK 876
-0.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.36SEK 328
$29.13SEK 278
17.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0SEK 897
$78.6SEK 749
19.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135SEK 1,290
$138SEK 1,320
-2.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Sundsvall
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,061SEK 10.1K
$701SEK 6,682
51.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$961SEK 9,162
$631SEK 6,020
52.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,849SEK 17.6K
$1,230SEK 11.7K
50.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,440SEK 13.7K
$926SEK 8,833
55.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,496SEK 61.9K
$2,516SEK 24.0K
158.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,613SEK 34.5K
$1,357SEK 12.9K
166.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Sundsvall
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,639SEK 34.7K
$3,141SEK 29.9K
15.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.06
3.88
-21.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gothenburg: August 31, 2026
Last update for Sundsvall: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,061 in Gothenburg and $701 in Sundsvall. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gothenburg pays 16% 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 $82.0 in Sundsvall for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 vs $327 per month, with Sundsvall 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 Sundsvall: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gothenburg or Sundsvall?
Sundsvall wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Gothenburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sundsvall the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Gothenburg or in Sundsvall?
Average pay runs 16% higher in Gothenburg, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Gothenburg compared to Sundsvall?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,061 in Gothenburg versus $701 in Sundsvall. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Gothenburg and in Sundsvall?
Childcare runs $230 in Gothenburg versus $145 in Sundsvall. 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 Sundsvall?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Gothenburg. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Gothenburg or in Sundsvall?
At $1,807 in Sundsvall versus $2,128 in Gothenburg, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Sundsvall but tight or insufficient in Gothenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Sundsvall the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gothenburg or Sundsvall?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sundsvall delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,807 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sundsvall hard to pass up.
How safe is Gothenburg compared to Sundsvall?
Safety-wise, Gothenburg and Sundsvall 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 Sundsvall gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% 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