😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,058 in Gothenburg versus $1,764 in Vaxjo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,193 in Gothenburg versus $2,643 in Vaxjo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,328 in Gothenburg versus $3,523 in Vaxjo.
😐Living in Gothenburg is roughly 17% more expensive than Vaxjo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gothenburg54% above, Vaxjo32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gothenburg
Vaxjo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.74SEK 128
$12.51SEK 117
9.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.9SEK 876
$69.9SEK 652
34.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.34SEK 96.5
$10.44SEK 97.5
-0.96%
Cappuccino
$4.73SEK 44.18
$4.13SEK 38.51
14.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97SEK 27.70
$1.24SEK 11.60
139.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53SEK 23.64
$1.31SEK 12.21
93.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.26SEK 67.8
$7.49SEK 69.9
-3.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72SEK 72.0
$6.82SEK 63.6
13.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gothenburg
Vaxjo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68SEK 15.67
$1.80SEK 16.78
-6.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.85SEK 26.62
$2.32SEK 21.67
22.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.32SEK 30.95
$3.94SEK 36.76
-15.74%
Eggs
$4.65SEK 43.41
$3.92SEK 36.62
18.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.80SEK 110
$13.79SEK 129
-14.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.61SEK 118
$11.38SEK 106
10.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.02SEK 178
$13.72SEK 128
38.63%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10SEK 28.92
$3.69SEK 34.46
-15.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.74SEK 25.54
$2.69SEK 25.11
1.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91SEK 27.11
$1.56SEK 14.58
86.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.18SEK 38.96
$4.61SEK 42.99
-9.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66SEK 15.50
$1.55SEK 14.48
7.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85SEK 17.25
$2.02SEK 18.81
-8.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.27SEK 21.22
$2.76SEK 25.74
-17.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55SEK 14.46
$1.63SEK 15.22
-4.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.82SEK 73.0
$7.13SEK 66.5
9.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.32SEK 143
$10.04SEK 93.7
52.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26SEK 21.08
$1.78SEK 16.61
26.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61SEK 24.32
$1.89SEK 17.62
38.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Gothenburg
Vaxjo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.80SEK 35.45
$3.03SEK 28.25
25.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.6SEK 827
$67.6SEK 631
31.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.11SEK 94.3
$10.54SEK 98.3
-4.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66SEK 15.48
$1.65SEK 15.36
0.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.7SEK 576
$21.48SEK 200
187.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 17.64
$1.98SEK 18.46
-4.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KSEK 298.9K
$32.4KSEK 302.0K
-1.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 321.6K
$32.2KSEK 300.2K
7.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gothenburg
Vaxjo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138SEK 1,292
$88.6SEK 826
56.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.95SEK 233
$27.95SEK 261
-10.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.25SEK 357
$32.23SEK 301
18.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gothenburg
Vaxjo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.78SEK 390
$38.87SEK 363
7.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.26SEK 236
$25.74SEK 240
-1.86%
Cinema Ticket
$17.98SEK 168
$16.62SEK 155
8.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gothenburg
Vaxjo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$175SEK 1,637
$147SEK 1,371
19.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,215SEK 39.3K
$752SEK 7,020
460.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gothenburg
Vaxjo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.6SEK 817
$106SEK 993
-17.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.28SEK 376
$26.54SEK 248
51.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.9SEK 904
$101SEK 947
-4.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,458
$143SEK 1,330
9.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gothenburg
Vaxjo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,125SEK 10.5K
$845SEK 7,889
33.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$873SEK 8,148
$678SEK 6,324
28.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,917SEK 17.9K
$1,571SEK 14.7K
22.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,434SEK 13.4K
$990SEK 9,234
44.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,696SEK 62.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,764SEK 35.1K
$2,620SEK 24.4K
43.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gothenburg
Vaxjo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,953SEK 36.9K
$3,306SEK 30.8K
19.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
4.53
-4.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gothenburg: June 2, 2026
Last update for Vaxjo: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Gothenburg and $845 in Vaxjo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gothenburg pays 20% 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: $94.0 in Gothenburg vs $70.0 in Vaxjo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $381 vs $348 per month, with Vaxjo 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 Vaxjo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gothenburg or Vaxjo?
Vaxjo wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Gothenburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Vaxjo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Gothenburg or Vaxjo?
Gothenburg pays 20% more on average, 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 vs Vaxjo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Gothenburg versus $845 in Vaxjo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Gothenburg and Vaxjo?
Childcare runs $175 in Gothenburg versus $147 in Vaxjo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Gothenburg or Vaxjo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Gothenburg. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Gothenburg or Vaxjo?
At $1,764 in Vaxjo versus $2,058 in Gothenburg, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Vaxjo but tight or insufficient in Gothenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Vaxjo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gothenburg or Vaxjo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Vaxjo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,764 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Vaxjo hard to pass up.
How safe is Gothenburg compared to Vaxjo?
Safety-wise, Gothenburg and Vaxjo 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 Vaxjo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% 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