🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,783 in Kista versus $2,128 in Gothenburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,808 in Kista versus $3,175 in Gothenburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,833 in Kista versus $4,222 in Gothenburg.
🌍Living in Kista costs roughly 16% less than in Gothenburg, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kista30% above, Gothenburg55% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.08SEK 135
$13.76SEK 132
2.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.7SEK 772
$91.9SEK 879
-12.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.55SEK 101
$12.84SEK 123
-17.83%
Cappuccino
$4.87SEK 46.57
$5.06SEK 48.44
-3.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81SEK 26.89
$2.94SEK 28.14
-4.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29SEK 21.91
$2.19SEK 20.94
4.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.20SEK 68.9
$7.18SEK 68.7
0.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19SEK 68.7
$7.86SEK 75.2
-8.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75SEK 16.74
$1.80SEK 17.19
-2.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.90SEK 27.77
$2.77SEK 26.50
4.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.95SEK 37.79
$3.17SEK 30.28
24.61%
Eggs
$4.50SEK 43.09
$4.10SEK 39.18
9.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.56SEK 120
$12.10SEK 116
3.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.44SEK 119
$11.67SEK 112
6.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.04SEK 182
$17.76SEK 170
7.21%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30SEK 31.53
$3.23SEK 30.88
2.17%
Banana(1kg)
$2.68SEK 25.67
$2.64SEK 25.25
1.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.07SEK 29.35
$3.22SEK 30.79
-4.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.62SEK 44.19
$4.37SEK 41.82
5.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67SEK 16.01
$1.82SEK 17.41
-8.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.69SEK 16.16
$1.68SEK 16.02
0.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.42SEK 23.11
$2.03SEK 19.38
19.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56SEK 14.88
$1.78SEK 17.01
-12.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.84SEK 75.0
$8.50SEK 81.3
-7.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.38SEK 99.3
$14.55SEK 139
-28.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05SEK 19.63
$2.20SEK 21.02
-6.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30SEK 21.98
$2.38SEK 22.76
-3.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.41SEK 32.61
$3.85SEK 36.81
-11.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.4SEK 769
$88.8SEK 849
-9.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.15SEK 58.8
$6.45SEK 61.7
-4.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82SEK 17.40
$1.73SEK 16.50
5.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.1SEK 594
$61.3SEK 586
1.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85SEK 17.69
$1.90SEK 18.22
-2.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2KSEK 327.4K
$34.0KSEK 324.8K
0.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KSEK 326.3K
$34.4KSEK 328.6K
-0.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114SEK 1,089
$110SEK 1,052
3.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38SEK 262
$19.66SEK 188
39.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.92SEK 382
$36.30SEK 347
9.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.50SEK 378
$37.94SEK 363
4.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.95SEK 258
$25.89SEK 248
4.09%
Cinema Ticket
$16.57SEK 159
$19.34SEK 185
-14.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$166SEK 1,592
$230SEK 2,196
-27.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,240SEK 50.1K
$4,554SEK 43.6K
15.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.5SEK 894
$91.0SEK 870
2.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41SEK 415
$34.36SEK 329
26.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.0SEK 928
$94.0SEK 900
3.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148SEK 1,412
$135SEK 1,294
9.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$834SEK 7,976
$1,061SEK 10.2K
-21.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623SEK 5,955
$961SEK 9,192
-35.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,434SEK 13.7K
$1,849SEK 17.7K
-22.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,065SEK 10.2K
$1,440SEK 13.8K
-26.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,164SEK 39.8K
$6,496SEK 62.1K
-35.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,953SEK 28.2K
$3,613SEK 34.6K
-18.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$3,639SEK 34.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.42
3.06
11.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kista: August 30, 2026
Last update for Gothenburg: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $834 in Kista and $1,061 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $81.0 in Kista vs $92.0 in Gothenburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $378 vs $372, with Gothenburg cheaper for home cooking.
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
Kista vs Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kista or Gothenburg?
Kista wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Gothenburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kista the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kista and in Gothenburg?
You'd need roughly $2,675 in Kista and $3,192 in Gothenburg to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kista compared to Gothenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $834 in Kista 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 Kista and in Gothenburg?
Childcare runs $166 in Kista 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 Kista or in Gothenburg?
Shoppers in Gothenburg pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Kista or in Gothenburg?
At $1,783 in Kista versus $2,128 in Gothenburg, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kista but tight or insufficient in Gothenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Kista the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kista or Gothenburg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kista delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,783 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kista hard to pass up.
How safe is Kista compared to Gothenburg?
Safety-wise, Kista 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 Kista 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.