Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlskrona and Gothenburg

For one person, living is cheaper in Karlskrona: $1,636 a month against $2,008 in Gothenburg, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Karlskrona, Sweden
Gothenburg, Sweden
Karlskrona
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,636
/mo nomad
Gothenburg
🇸🇪 Sweden
$2,008
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Karlskrona and in Gothenburg

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Karlskrona and in Gothenburg actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,636 in Karlskrona versus $2,008 in Gothenburg.

  • Karlskrona $1,636
  • Gothenburg $2,008

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,545 in Karlskrona versus $3,067 in Gothenburg.

  • Karlskrona $2,545
  • Gothenburg $3,067

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,453 in Karlskrona versus $4,127 in Gothenburg.

  • Karlskrona $3,453
  • Gothenburg $4,127

Living in Karlskrona costs roughly 18% less than in Gothenburg, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Karlskrona 20% above, Gothenburg 48% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.82 SEK 126
$13.67 SEK 134
-6.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.2 SEK 650
$86.7 SEK 851
-23.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 SEK 86.5
$12.40 SEK 122
-28.95%
Cappuccino
$4.09 SEK 40.19
$5.04 SEK 49.51
-18.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 SEK 13.08
$2.99 SEK 29.33
-55.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 SEK 22.08
$2.33 SEK 22.91
-3.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.93 SEK 68.0
$6.88 SEK 67.6
0.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.00 SEK 49.14
$7.57 SEK 74.4
-33.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 SEK 14.31
$1.73 SEK 16.98
-15.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 SEK 26.23
$2.79 SEK 27.38
-4.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.66 SEK 35.98
$3.26 SEK 31.99
12.27%
Eggs
$4.41 SEK 43.26
$3.90 SEK 38.28
13.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.01 SEK 108
$11.25 SEK 110
-2.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.05 SEK 128
$11.57 SEK 114
12.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.37 SEK 171
$16.43 SEK 161
5.72%
Apples (1kg)
$3.07 SEK 30.12
$3.01 SEK 29.56
1.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.32 SEK 22.75
$2.45 SEK 24.08
-5.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.03 SEK 29.80
$2.90 SEK 28.49
4.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.40 SEK 43.23
$4.49 SEK 44.12
-2.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 SEK 14.68
$1.83 SEK 17.96
-18.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 SEK 14.68
$1.67 SEK 16.37
-10.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 SEK 21.38
$2.05 SEK 20.12
6.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 SEK 13.98
$1.60 SEK 15.73
-11.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.99 SEK 68.6
$8.35 SEK 82.0
-16.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.80 SEK 126
$15.18 SEK 149
-15.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 SEK 20.02
$2.04 SEK 20.05
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 SEK 16.01
$2.25 SEK 22.13
-27.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.94 SEK 28.86
$3.83 SEK 37.58
-23.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.8 SEK 695
$86.4 SEK 848
-18.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$13.17 SEK 129
$6.21 SEK 60.9
112.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.06 SEK 20.27
$1.67 SEK 16.39
23.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$80.5 SEK 790
$59.2 SEK 581
35.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.77 SEK 17.37
$1.75 SEK 17.21
1.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K SEK 321.2K
$33.4K SEK 328.1K
-2.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K SEK 326.4K
$33.8K SEK 331.9K
-1.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.1 SEK 502
$104 SEK 1,017
-50.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.03 SEK 275
$19.70 SEK 193
42.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.39 SEK 357
$34.35 SEK 337
5.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.03 SEK 403
$34.01 SEK 334
20.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.39 SEK 240
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.13 SEK 158
$16.98 SEK 167
-5.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$160 SEK 1,574
$222 SEK 2,182
-27.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$4,336 SEK 42.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.6 SEK 958
$88.7 SEK 871
10.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.06 SEK 197
$32.91 SEK 323
-39.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.6 SEK 782
$87.8 SEK 862
-9.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$179 SEK 1,759
$134 SEK 1,316
33.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$681 SEK 6,684
$1,107 SEK 10.9K
-38.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$576 SEK 5,652
$874 SEK 8,580
-34.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,097 SEK 10.8K
$1,861 SEK 18.3K
-41.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$937 SEK 9,202
$1,400 SEK 13.7K
-33.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,929 SEK 28.8K
$6,415 SEK 63.0K
-54.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,526 SEK 24.8K
$4,026 SEK 39.5K
-37.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,463 SEK 24.2K
$3,521 SEK 34.6K
-30.06%
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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Gothenburg: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Karlskrona
$576
Gothenburg
$874 51.8% $298
Groceries & Markets
Karlskrona
$360
Gothenburg
$360 0% $0.2
Eating Out
Karlskrona
$237
Gothenburg
$278 17.2% $41
Clothing & Footwear
Karlskrona
$169
Gothenburg
$155 8.7% $15
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlskrona
$116
Gothenburg
$158 36.5% $42
Getting Around
Karlskrona
$106
Gothenburg
$116 9.6% $10
Sport & Entertainment
Karlskrona
$73
Gothenburg
$68 7.3% $5.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $681 in Karlskrona and $1,107 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gothenburg pays 43% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $66 in Karlskrona vs $87 in Gothenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $360 vs $360 per month, with Karlskrona cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Karlskrona
🇸🇪 Gothenburg
🕒 Local time
08:06 8:06 AM
08:06 8:06 AM
Same time as Karlskrona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
35,212
607,882
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 9.82 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 SEK (100 SEK = 9.12 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Karlskrona Gothenburg 280 km
From you
  • Karlskrona
  • Gothenburg

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 18% 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 30% lower in Karlskrona. 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: $681 in Karlskrona versus $1,107 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 $160 in Karlskrona versus $222 in Gothenburg. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Karlskrona and in Gothenburg?
Dining out is cheaper in Karlskrona – a meal for two runs $66 versus $87 in Gothenburg. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Karlskrona or in Gothenburg?
Either city works on $2,500 a month, though Karlskrona gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Karlskrona or Gothenburg?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Karlskrona compared to Gothenburg?
Safety-wise, Karlskrona and Gothenburg are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Should I move to Karlskrona or to Gothenburg?
It comes down to priorities – Karlskrona wins on affordability, Gothenburg on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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