🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,778 in Kista versus $2,063 in Gothenburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,784 in Kista versus $3,240 in Gothenburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,790 in Kista versus $4,417 in Gothenburg.
🌍Living in Kista costs roughly 14% less than in Gothenburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kista33% above, Gothenburg54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.19SEK 127
$13.74SEK 132
-4.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.6SEK 700
$91.2SEK 879
-20.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.50SEK 101
$10.42SEK 100
0.77%
Cappuccino
$4.77SEK 45.99
$4.86SEK 46.80
-1.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77SEK 26.71
$3.08SEK 29.65
-10.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51SEK 24.22
$2.56SEK 24.69
-1.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.85SEK 75.6
$7.43SEK 71.6
5.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.53SEK 72.6
$7.72SEK 74.4
-2.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68SEK 16.21
$1.76SEK 16.94
-4.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75SEK 26.50
$2.87SEK 27.70
-4.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.92SEK 37.78
$3.34SEK 32.20
17.37%
Eggs
$4.03SEK 38.81
$4.63SEK 44.66
-12.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.15SEK 117
$11.67SEK 113
4.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.64SEK 112
$12.41SEK 120
-6.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.08SEK 165
$18.65SEK 180
-8.42%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18SEK 30.68
$3.07SEK 29.63
3.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.62SEK 25.21
$2.64SEK 25.48
-0.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.04SEK 29.26
$2.93SEK 28.21
3.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.52SEK 43.58
$4.31SEK 41.54
4.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56SEK 15.03
$1.76SEK 16.92
-11.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79SEK 17.21
$1.87SEK 18.05
-4.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.49SEK 24.04
$2.22SEK 21.35
12.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52SEK 14.60
$1.59SEK 15.33
-4.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.21SEK 69.5
$7.94SEK 76.6
-9.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.51SEK 91.7
$14.36SEK 138
-33.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98SEK 19.08
$2.20SEK 21.19
-10.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89SEK 18.23
$2.53SEK 24.36
-25.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.37SEK 32.45
$3.92SEK 37.82
-14.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.8SEK 721
$90.9SEK 876
-17.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.36SEK 61.3
$10.16SEK 97.9
-37.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67SEK 16.08
$1.67SEK 16.05
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.1SEK 589
$61.6SEK 593
-0.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91SEK 18.42
$1.96SEK 18.89
-2.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1KSEK 319.4K
$32.2KSEK 310.1K
3.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0KSEK 327.8K
$35.6KSEK 342.7K
-4.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$116SEK 1,115
$140SEK 1,352
-17.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.92SEK 279
$25.00SEK 241
15.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.10SEK 358
$38.56SEK 372
-3.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.02SEK 395
$41.38SEK 399
-0.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.99SEK 241
$24.81SEK 239
0.73%
Cinema Ticket
$15.74SEK 152
$18.04SEK 174
-12.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$149SEK 1,439
$178SEK 1,714
-16.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,123SEK 39.7K
$4,177SEK 40.2K
-1.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.3SEK 899
$89.5SEK 863
4.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.93SEK 394
$39.39SEK 380
3.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.4SEK 919
$95.4SEK 919
0.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152SEK 1,465
$153SEK 1,470
-0.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$844SEK 8,129
$1,096SEK 10.6K
-23.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$659SEK 6,349
$860SEK 8,288
-23.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,395SEK 13.4K
$1,875SEK 18.1K
-25.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,072SEK 10.3K
$1,404SEK 13.5K
-23.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,624SEK 44.6K
$6,493SEK 62.6K
-28.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,069SEK 29.6K
$3,504SEK 33.8K
-12.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$3,590SEK 34.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
4.33
4.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kista: July 12, 2026
Last update for Gothenburg: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $844 in Kista and $1,096 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $73.0 in Kista vs $91.0 in Gothenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $357 vs $377 per month, with Kista 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
Kista vs Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kista or Gothenburg?
Kista wins on cost – living expenses run 16% 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 $2,667 in Kista and $3,094 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: $844 in Kista 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 Kista and in Gothenburg?
Childcare runs $149 in Kista 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 Kista 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 $2,000/month in Kista or in Gothenburg?
At $1,778 in Kista versus $2,063 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 $1,778 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 16% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.