Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlskrona and Gothenburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlskrona and Gothenburg

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,705 in Karlskrona versus $2,128 in Gothenburg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,670 in Karlskrona versus $3,175 in Gothenburg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,635 in Karlskrona versus $4,222 in Gothenburg.

Living in Karlskrona costs roughly 20% less than in Gothenburg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Karlskrona 24% above, Gothenburg 55% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.45 SEK 129
$13.76 SEK 132
-2.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.6 SEK 637
$91.9 SEK 879
-27.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.49 SEK 90.8
$12.84 SEK 123
-26.09%
Cappuccino
$4.25 SEK 40.65
$5.06 SEK 48.44
-16.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 SEK 13.21
$2.94 SEK 28.14
-53.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 SEK 21.93
$2.19 SEK 20.94
4.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.22 SEK 69.1
$7.18 SEK 68.7
0.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27 SEK 50.4
$7.86 SEK 75.2
-32.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 SEK 14.99
$1.80 SEK 17.19
-12.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 SEK 26.57
$2.77 SEK 26.50
0.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.83 SEK 36.62
$3.17 SEK 30.28
20.82%
Eggs
$4.71 SEK 45.07
$4.10 SEK 39.18
14.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.24 SEK 107
$12.10 SEK 116
-7.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.58 SEK 130
$11.67 SEK 112
16.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.56 SEK 168
$17.76 SEK 170
-1.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 SEK 29.73
$3.23 SEK 30.88
-3.72%
Banana (1kg)
$2.43 SEK 23.22
$2.64 SEK 25.25
-7.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.15 SEK 30.17
$3.22 SEK 30.79
-2.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.47 SEK 42.77
$4.37 SEK 41.82
2.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 SEK 14.09
$1.82 SEK 17.41
-19.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.53 SEK 14.61
$1.68 SEK 16.02
-8.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 SEK 21.28
$2.03 SEK 19.38
9.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 SEK 14.13
$1.78 SEK 17.01
-16.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.49 SEK 71.7
$8.50 SEK 81.3
-11.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.85 SEK 123
$14.55 SEK 139
-11.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 SEK 19.16
$2.20 SEK 21.02
-9.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 SEK 16.49
$2.38 SEK 22.76
-27.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.06 SEK 29.24
$3.85 SEK 36.81
-20.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.4 SEK 721
$88.8 SEK 849
-15.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$13.73 SEK 131
$6.45 SEK 61.7
112.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 SEK 19.57
$1.73 SEK 16.50
18.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$82.0 SEK 785
$61.3 SEK 586
33.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 SEK 16.79
$1.90 SEK 18.22
-7.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K SEK 329.5K
$34.0K SEK 324.8K
1.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K SEK 325.8K
$34.4K SEK 328.6K
-0.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.4 SEK 511
$110 SEK 1,052
-51.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.28 SEK 271
$19.66 SEK 188
43.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.24 SEK 366
$36.30 SEK 347
5.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.90 SEK 410
$37.94 SEK 363
13.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.47 SEK 244
$25.89 SEK 248
-1.62%
Cinema Ticket
$16.83 SEK 161
$19.34 SEK 185
-12.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$166 SEK 1,586
$230 SEK 2,196
-27.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$4,554 SEK 43.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 SEK 996
$91.0 SEK 870
14.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.84 SEK 199
$34.36 SEK 329
-39.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 SEK 812
$94.0 SEK 900
-9.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$182 SEK 1,736
$135 SEK 1,294
34.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$685 SEK 6,552
$1,061 SEK 10.2K
-35.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$597 SEK 5,714
$961 SEK 9,192
-37.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,152 SEK 11.0K
$1,849 SEK 17.7K
-37.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$990 SEK 9,467
$1,440 SEK 13.8K
-31.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,983 SEK 28.5K
$6,496 SEK 62.1K
-54.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,574 SEK 24.6K
$3,613 SEK 34.6K
-28.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,582 SEK 24.7K
$3,639 SEK 34.8K
-29.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
3.06
37.91%

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

Last update for Karlskrona: August 30, 2026

Last update for Gothenburg: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $685 in Karlskrona and $1,061 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gothenburg pays 41% 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: $67.0 in Karlskrona vs $92.0 in Gothenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $370 vs $372 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 25% 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 in Gothenburg?
On paper, salaries run 41% lower in Gothenburg. 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 compared to Gothenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $685 in Karlskrona versus $1,061 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 in Gothenburg?
Childcare runs $166 in Karlskrona versus $230 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 in Gothenburg?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% 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 in Gothenburg?
At $1,705 in Karlskrona versus $2,128 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 $1,705 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 25% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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