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: $1,768 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: Karlskrona 32% above, Gothenburg 54% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.32 SEK 124
$13.74 SEK 128
-3.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1 SEK 645
$93.9 SEK 876
-26.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 SEK 86.0
$10.34 SEK 96.5
-10.83%
Cappuccino
$3.98 SEK 37.16
$4.73 SEK 44.18
-15.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 SEK 13.48
$2.97 SEK 27.70
-51.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 SEK 23.44
$2.53 SEK 23.64
-0.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.21 SEK 67.3
$7.26 SEK 67.8
-0.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33 SEK 49.78
$7.72 SEK 72.0
-30.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 SEK 14.88
$1.68 SEK 15.67
-4.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.84 SEK 26.45
$2.85 SEK 26.62
-0.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.84 SEK 35.80
$3.32 SEK 30.95
15.66%
Eggs
$4.07 SEK 38.01
$4.65 SEK 43.41
-12.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.49 SEK 107
$11.80 SEK 110
-2.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.95 SEK 111
$12.61 SEK 118
-5.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.94 SEK 149
$19.02 SEK 178
-16.19%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 SEK 30.13
$3.10 SEK 28.92
4.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.43 SEK 22.69
$2.74 SEK 25.54
-11.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.21 SEK 29.96
$2.91 SEK 27.11
10.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.64 SEK 43.31
$4.18 SEK 38.96
11.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 SEK 14.07
$1.66 SEK 15.50
-9.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.60 SEK 14.88
$1.85 SEK 17.25
-13.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 SEK 20.69
$2.27 SEK 21.22
-2.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 SEK 13.49
$1.55 SEK 14.46
-6.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.48 SEK 69.8
$7.82 SEK 73.0
-4.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.48 SEK 126
$15.32 SEK 143
-12.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 SEK 19.59
$2.26 SEK 21.08
-7.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 SEK 16.55
$2.61 SEK 24.32
-32.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.03 SEK 28.24
$3.80 SEK 35.45
-20.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 SEK 608
$88.6 SEK 827
-26.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$14.57 SEK 136
$10.11 SEK 94.3
44.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 SEK 15.47
$1.66 SEK 15.48
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.00 SEK 196
$61.7 SEK 576
-65.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 SEK 17.49
$1.89 SEK 17.64
-1.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K SEK 308.6K
$32.0K SEK 298.9K
3.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K SEK 317.7K
$34.5K SEK 321.6K
-1.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.3 SEK 497
$138 SEK 1,292
-61.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.37 SEK 265
$24.95 SEK 233
13.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.87 SEK 344
$38.25 SEK 357
-3.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.31 SEK 404
$41.78 SEK 390
3.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.03 SEK 224
$25.26 SEK 236
-4.87%
Cinema Ticket
$17.05 SEK 159
$17.98 SEK 168
-5.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$146 SEK 1,358
$175 SEK 1,637
-17.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$753 SEK 7,026
$4,215 SEK 39.3K
-82.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 SEK 967
$87.6 SEK 817
18.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.86 SEK 195
$40.28 SEK 376
-48.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.2 SEK 795
$96.9 SEK 904
-12.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154 SEK 1,434
$156 SEK 1,458
-1.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 SEK 6,679
$1,125 SEK 10.5K
-36.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$690 SEK 6,435
$873 SEK 8,148
-21.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,149 SEK 10.7K
$1,917 SEK 17.9K
-40.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,002 SEK 9,348
$1,434 SEK 13.4K
-30.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,141 SEK 29.3K
$6,696 SEK 62.5K
-53.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,664 SEK 24.9K
$3,764 SEK 35.1K
-29.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,640 SEK 24.6K
$3,953 SEK 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.

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