🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,063 in Gothenburg versus $2,217 in Vantaa.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,240 in Gothenburg versus $3,281 in Vantaa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,417 in Gothenburg versus $4,345 in Vantaa.
🌍Living in Gothenburg costs roughly 7% less than in Vantaa, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg54% above, Vantaa66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Vantaa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.74SEK 133
$15.75€13.78
-12.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.2SEK 882
$69.7€61.0
30.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.42SEK 101
$13.85€12.12
-24.77%
Cappuccino
$4.86SEK 46.95
$4.16€3.64
16.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08SEK 29.74
$1.97€1.72
56.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56SEK 24.77
$1.49€1.31
71.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.43SEK 71.8
$6.78€5.93
9.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72SEK 74.6
$8.30€7.26
-6.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Vantaa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76SEK 17.00
$1.25€1.09
40.80%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87SEK 27.78
$2.86€2.50
0.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.34SEK 32.30
$2.63€2.30
27.00%
Eggs
$4.63SEK 44.80
$3.51€3.07
31.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.67SEK 113
$9.58€8.38
21.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.41SEK 120
$13.57€11.88
-8.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.65SEK 180
$23.95€20.96
-22.13%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07SEK 29.72
$2.49€2.18
23.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64SEK 25.56
$2.12€1.86
24.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.93SEK 28.30
$2.39€2.09
22.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.31SEK 41.67
$4.20€3.67
2.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76SEK 16.97
$1.31€1.15
34.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87SEK 18.10
$1.91€1.67
-2.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22SEK 21.42
$1.69€1.48
31.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59SEK 15.38
$1.84€1.61
-13.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.94SEK 76.8
$12.55€10.98
-36.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.36SEK 139
$12.38€10.83
15.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20SEK 21.25
$3.28€2.87
-32.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53SEK 24.44
$3.61€3.16
-29.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Vantaa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.92SEK 37.94
$3.42€3.00
14.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.9SEK 879
$77.0€67.4
18.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.16SEK 98.2
$9.41€8.24
7.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67SEK 16.10
$1.17€1.02
42.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.6SEK 595
$97.5€85.3
-36.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96SEK 18.95
$2.11€1.84
-7.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KSEK 311.1K
$35.1K€30.7K
-8.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6KSEK 343.7K
$39.1K€34.2K
-8.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Vantaa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$140SEK 1,356
$236€207
-40.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.00SEK 242
$30.12€26.35
-17.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.56SEK 373
$23.82€20.84
61.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Vantaa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.38SEK 400
$42.23€36.95
-2.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.81SEK 240
$36.49€31.92
-32.01%
Cinema Ticket
$18.04SEK 174
$17.28€15.12
4.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Vantaa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$178SEK 1,719
$350€306
-49.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,177SEK 40.4K
$35.2K€30.8K
-88.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Vantaa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5SEK 866
$100.0€87.5
-10.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39SEK 381
$44.68€39.09
-11.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.4SEK 922
$114€99.3
-15.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153SEK 1,474
$161€140
-4.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Vantaa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,096SEK 10.6K
$1,044€913
5.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$860SEK 8,314
$883€773
-2.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,875SEK 18.1K
$1,934€1,692
-3.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,404SEK 13.6K
$1,405€1,229
-0.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,493SEK 62.8K
$3,972€3,475
63.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,504SEK 33.9K
$2,112€1,848
65.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Vantaa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,590SEK 34.7K
$2,686€2,350
33.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
3.93
10.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gothenburg: July 12, 2026
Last update for Vantaa: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,096 in Gothenburg and $1,044 in Vantaa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gothenburg pays 34% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $91.0 in Gothenburg vs $70.0 in Vantaa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $375 per month, with Vantaa 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 Vantaa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gothenburg or Vantaa?
Gothenburg wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Vantaa. 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 Vantaa?
Average pay runs 34% 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 Vantaa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,096 in Gothenburg versus $1,044 in Vantaa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Gothenburg and in Vantaa?
Childcare runs $178 in Gothenburg versus $350 in Vantaa. 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 Vantaa?
Shoppers in Vantaa pay roughly 1% 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 Vantaa?
At $2,063 in Gothenburg versus $2,217 in Vantaa, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gothenburg but tight or insufficient in Vantaa. 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 Vantaa?
Both work as nomad bases, but Gothenburg delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,063 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 Vantaa?
Safety-wise, Gothenburg and Vantaa 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 7% less than in Vantaa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Gothenburg vs other spots: cost of living compared