🙂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: Karlskrona24% above, Gothenburg55% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.45SEK 129
$13.76SEK 132
-2.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.6SEK 637
$91.9SEK 879
-27.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.49SEK 90.8
$12.84SEK 123
-26.09%
Cappuccino
$4.25SEK 40.65
$5.06SEK 48.44
-16.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38SEK 13.21
$2.94SEK 28.14
-53.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29SEK 21.93
$2.19SEK 20.94
4.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.22SEK 69.1
$7.18SEK 68.7
0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27SEK 50.4
$7.86SEK 75.2
-32.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57SEK 14.99
$1.80SEK 17.19
-12.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.78SEK 26.57
$2.77SEK 26.50
0.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.83SEK 36.62
$3.17SEK 30.28
20.82%
Eggs
$4.71SEK 45.07
$4.10SEK 39.18
14.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.24SEK 107
$12.10SEK 116
-7.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.58SEK 130
$11.67SEK 112
16.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.56SEK 168
$17.76SEK 170
-1.13%
Apples(1kg)
$3.11SEK 29.73
$3.23SEK 30.88
-3.72%
Banana(1kg)
$2.43SEK 23.22
$2.64SEK 25.25
-7.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.15SEK 30.17
$3.22SEK 30.79
-2.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.47SEK 42.77
$4.37SEK 41.82
2.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47SEK 14.09
$1.82SEK 17.41
-19.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.53SEK 14.61
$1.68SEK 16.02
-8.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22SEK 21.28
$2.03SEK 19.38
9.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48SEK 14.13
$1.78SEK 17.01
-16.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.49SEK 71.7
$8.50SEK 81.3
-11.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.85SEK 123
$14.55SEK 139
-11.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00SEK 19.16
$2.20SEK 21.02
-9.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72SEK 16.49
$2.38SEK 22.76
-27.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.06SEK 29.24
$3.85SEK 36.81
-20.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.4SEK 721
$88.8SEK 849
-15.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$13.73SEK 131
$6.45SEK 61.7
112.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05SEK 19.57
$1.73SEK 16.50
18.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$82.0SEK 785
$61.3SEK 586
33.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76SEK 16.79
$1.90SEK 18.22
-7.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KSEK 329.5K
$34.0KSEK 324.8K
1.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KSEK 325.8K
$34.4KSEK 328.6K
-0.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.4SEK 511
$110SEK 1,052
-51.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.28SEK 271
$19.66SEK 188
43.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.24SEK 366
$36.30SEK 347
5.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.90SEK 410
$37.94SEK 363
13.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.47SEK 244
$25.89SEK 248
-1.62%
Cinema Ticket
$16.83SEK 161
$19.34SEK 185
-12.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$166SEK 1,586
$230SEK 2,196
-27.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$4,554SEK 43.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104SEK 996
$91.0SEK 870
14.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.84SEK 199
$34.36SEK 329
-39.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9SEK 812
$94.0SEK 900
-9.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$182SEK 1,736
$135SEK 1,294
34.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$685SEK 6,552
$1,061SEK 10.2K
-35.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$597SEK 5,714
$961SEK 9,192
-37.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,152SEK 11.0K
$1,849SEK 17.7K
-37.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$990SEK 9,467
$1,440SEK 13.8K
-31.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,983SEK 28.5K
$6,496SEK 62.1K
-54.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,574SEK 24.6K
$3,613SEK 34.6K
-28.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlskrona
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,582SEK 24.7K
$3,639SEK 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.
Karlskrona vs other spots: cost of living compared