🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,768 in Karlskrona versus $2,058 in Gothenburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,652 in Karlskrona versus $3,193 in Gothenburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,535 in Karlskrona versus $4,328 in Gothenburg.
🙂Living in Karlskrona costs roughly 14% less than in Gothenburg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Karlskrona32% above, Gothenburg54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.32SEK 124
$13.74SEK 128
-3.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1SEK 645
$93.9SEK 876
-26.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.22SEK 86.0
$10.34SEK 96.5
-10.83%
Cappuccino
$3.98SEK 37.16
$4.73SEK 44.18
-15.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45SEK 13.48
$2.97SEK 27.70
-51.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51SEK 23.44
$2.53SEK 23.64
-0.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.21SEK 67.3
$7.26SEK 67.8
-0.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33SEK 49.78
$7.72SEK 72.0
-30.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60SEK 14.88
$1.68SEK 15.67
-4.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.84SEK 26.45
$2.85SEK 26.62
-0.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.84SEK 35.80
$3.32SEK 30.95
15.66%
Eggs
$4.07SEK 38.01
$4.65SEK 43.41
-12.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.49SEK 107
$11.80SEK 110
-2.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.95SEK 111
$12.61SEK 118
-5.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.94SEK 149
$19.02SEK 178
-16.19%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23SEK 30.13
$3.10SEK 28.92
4.19%
Banana(1kg)
$2.43SEK 22.69
$2.74SEK 25.54
-11.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.21SEK 29.96
$2.91SEK 27.11
10.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.64SEK 43.31
$4.18SEK 38.96
11.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51SEK 14.07
$1.66SEK 15.50
-9.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.60SEK 14.88
$1.85SEK 17.25
-13.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22SEK 20.69
$2.27SEK 21.22
-2.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45SEK 13.49
$1.55SEK 14.46
-6.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.48SEK 69.8
$7.82SEK 73.0
-4.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.48SEK 126
$15.32SEK 143
-12.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10SEK 19.59
$2.26SEK 21.08
-7.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77SEK 16.55
$2.61SEK 24.32
-32.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03SEK 28.24
$3.80SEK 35.45
-20.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.2SEK 608
$88.6SEK 827
-26.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.57SEK 136
$10.11SEK 94.3
44.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66SEK 15.47
$1.66SEK 15.48
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.00SEK 196
$61.7SEK 576
-65.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87SEK 17.49
$1.89SEK 17.64
-1.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1KSEK 308.6K
$32.0KSEK 298.9K
3.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KSEK 317.7K
$34.5KSEK 321.6K
-1.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.3SEK 497
$138SEK 1,292
-61.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.37SEK 265
$24.95SEK 233
13.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.87SEK 344
$38.25SEK 357
-3.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.31SEK 404
$41.78SEK 390
3.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.03SEK 224
$25.26SEK 236
-4.87%
Cinema Ticket
$17.05SEK 159
$17.98SEK 168
-5.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$146SEK 1,358
$175SEK 1,637
-17.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$753SEK 7,026
$4,215SEK 39.3K
-82.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104SEK 967
$87.6SEK 817
18.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.86SEK 195
$40.28SEK 376
-48.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.2SEK 795
$96.9SEK 904
-12.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154SEK 1,434
$156SEK 1,458
-1.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$716SEK 6,679
$1,125SEK 10.5K
-36.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$690SEK 6,435
$873SEK 8,148
-21.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,149SEK 10.7K
$1,917SEK 17.9K
-40.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,002SEK 9,348
$1,434SEK 13.4K
-30.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,141SEK 29.3K
$6,696SEK 62.5K
-53.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,664SEK 24.9K
$3,764SEK 35.1K
-29.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,640SEK 24.6K
$3,953SEK 36.9K
-33.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.7
4.33
8.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karlskrona: May 30, 2026
Last update for Gothenburg: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Karlskrona and $1,125 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gothenburg pays 50% 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: $69.0 in Karlskrona vs $94.0 in Gothenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $360 vs $381 per month, with Karlskrona 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
Karlskrona vs Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Karlskrona or Gothenburg?
Karlskrona wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Gothenburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Karlskrona the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Karlskrona or Gothenburg?
On paper, Gothenburg earns 50% less. 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 Karlskrona vs Gothenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Karlskrona versus $1,125 in Gothenburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Karlskrona and Gothenburg?
Childcare runs $146 in Karlskrona versus $175 in Gothenburg. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Karlskrona or Gothenburg?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Gothenburg. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Karlskrona or Gothenburg?
At $1,768 in Karlskrona versus $2,058 in Gothenburg, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Karlskrona but tight or insufficient in Gothenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Karlskrona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Karlskrona or Gothenburg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Karlskrona delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,768 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Karlskrona hard to pass up.
How safe is Karlskrona compared to Gothenburg?
Safety-wise, Karlskrona and Gothenburg 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 Karlskrona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Karlskrona vs other spots: cost of living compared