🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,727 in Karlskrona versus $2,063 in Gothenburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,601 in Karlskrona versus $3,240 in Gothenburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,475 in Karlskrona versus $4,417 in Gothenburg.
🌍Living in Karlskrona costs roughly 16% less than in Gothenburg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Karlskrona29% above, Gothenburg54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.17SEK 127
$13.74SEK 133
-4.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5SEK 652
$91.2SEK 882
-26.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.28SEK 89.7
$10.42SEK 101
-10.94%
Cappuccino
$3.94SEK 38.10
$4.86SEK 46.95
-18.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45SEK 14.04
$3.08SEK 29.74
-52.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51SEK 24.29
$2.56SEK 24.77
-1.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.47SEK 72.2
$7.43SEK 71.8
0.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.38SEK 52.0
$7.72SEK 74.6
-30.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52SEK 14.67
$1.76SEK 17.00
-13.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.82SEK 27.24
$2.87SEK 27.78
-1.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.00SEK 38.63
$3.34SEK 32.30
19.76%
Eggs
$3.94SEK 38.05
$4.63SEK 44.80
-14.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.60SEK 112
$11.67SEK 113
-0.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.68SEK 113
$12.41SEK 120
-5.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.98SEK 154
$18.65SEK 180
-14.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.11SEK 30.03
$3.07SEK 29.72
1.30%
Banana(1kg)
$2.53SEK 24.46
$2.64SEK 25.56
-4.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.04SEK 29.36
$2.93SEK 28.30
3.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68SEK 45.24
$4.31SEK 41.67
8.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50SEK 14.48
$1.76SEK 16.97
-14.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.56SEK 15.06
$1.87SEK 18.10
-16.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.21SEK 21.34
$2.22SEK 21.42
-0.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47SEK 14.17
$1.59SEK 15.38
-7.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.16SEK 69.2
$7.94SEK 76.8
-9.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.85SEK 124
$14.36SEK 139
-10.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02SEK 19.55
$2.20SEK 21.25
-8.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79SEK 17.30
$2.53SEK 24.44
-29.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.93SEK 28.35
$3.92SEK 37.94
-25.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.2SEK 630
$90.9SEK 879
-28.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.39SEK 139
$10.16SEK 98.2
41.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59SEK 15.36
$1.67SEK 16.10
-4.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.13SEK 204
$61.6SEK 595
-65.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94SEK 18.74
$1.96SEK 18.95
-1.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0KSEK 319.2K
$32.2KSEK 311.1K
2.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 333.4K
$35.6KSEK 343.7K
-3.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.1SEK 513
$140SEK 1,356
-62.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.35SEK 274
$25.00SEK 242
13.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.07SEK 358
$38.56SEK 373
-3.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.47SEK 430
$41.38SEK 400
7.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.19SEK 234
$24.81SEK 240
-2.50%
Cinema Ticket
$17.06SEK 165
$18.04SEK 174
-5.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$142SEK 1,375
$178SEK 1,719
-20.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$745SEK 7,205
$4,177SEK 40.4K
-82.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104SEK 1,002
$89.5SEK 866
15.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.05SEK 204
$39.39SEK 381
-46.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.5SEK 807
$95.4SEK 922
-12.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155SEK 1,498
$153SEK 1,474
1.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$705SEK 6,813
$1,096SEK 10.6K
-35.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$692SEK 6,688
$860SEK 8,314
-19.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,146SEK 11.1K
$1,875SEK 18.1K
-38.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$998SEK 9,647
$1,404SEK 13.6K
-28.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,021SEK 29.2K
$6,493SEK 62.8K
-53.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,550SEK 24.6K
$3,504SEK 33.9K
-27.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,501SEK 24.2K
$3,590SEK 34.7K
-30.32%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Gothenburg: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $705 in Karlskrona and $1,096 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gothenburg pays 44% 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 $91.0 in Gothenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $356 vs $377 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 19% 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 44% 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: $705 in Karlskrona versus $1,096 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 $142 in Karlskrona versus $178 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 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 in Gothenburg?
At $1,727 in Karlskrona versus $2,063 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 $1,727 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 19% 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