🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,804 in Kista versus $2,058 in Gothenburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,763 in Kista versus $3,193 in Gothenburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Kista versus $4,328 in Gothenburg.
🙂Living in Kista costs roughly 12% less than in Gothenburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kista35% above, Gothenburg54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.28SEK 124
$13.74SEK 128
-3.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.4SEK 675
$93.9SEK 876
-22.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.62SEK 99.1
$10.34SEK 96.5
2.71%
Cappuccino
$4.52SEK 42.20
$4.73SEK 44.18
-4.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69SEK 25.08
$2.97SEK 27.70
-9.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42SEK 22.61
$2.53SEK 23.64
-4.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.94SEK 74.1
$7.26SEK 67.8
9.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.42SEK 69.3
$7.72SEK 72.0
-3.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66SEK 15.49
$1.68SEK 15.67
-1.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.82SEK 26.33
$2.85SEK 26.62
-1.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.90SEK 36.38
$3.32SEK 30.95
17.47%
Eggs
$4.17SEK 38.94
$4.65SEK 43.41
-10.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.95SEK 111
$11.80SEK 110
1.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.92SEK 111
$12.61SEK 118
-5.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.85SEK 157
$19.02SEK 178
-11.41%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17SEK 29.58
$3.10SEK 28.92
2.26%
Banana(1kg)
$2.71SEK 25.25
$2.74SEK 25.54
-1.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10SEK 28.91
$2.91SEK 27.11
6.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.33SEK 40.40
$4.18SEK 38.96
3.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64SEK 15.29
$1.66SEK 15.50
-1.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.76SEK 16.43
$1.85SEK 17.25
-4.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.61SEK 24.37
$2.27SEK 21.22
14.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58SEK 14.72
$1.55SEK 14.46
1.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.19SEK 67.1
$7.82SEK 73.0
-8.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.70SEK 90.5
$15.32SEK 143
-36.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96SEK 18.33
$2.26SEK 21.08
-13.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92SEK 17.88
$2.61SEK 24.32
-26.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.33SEK 31.07
$3.80SEK 35.45
-12.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.2SEK 683
$88.6SEK 827
-17.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.40SEK 59.7
$10.11SEK 94.3
-36.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67SEK 15.54
$1.66SEK 15.48
0.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.5SEK 584
$61.7SEK 576
1.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99SEK 18.54
$1.89SEK 17.64
5.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8KSEK 306.2K
$32.0KSEK 298.9K
2.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KSEK 324.3K
$34.5KSEK 321.6K
0.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115SEK 1,074
$138SEK 1,292
-16.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.15SEK 272
$24.95SEK 233
16.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.73SEK 343
$38.25SEK 357
-3.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.42SEK 377
$41.78SEK 390
-3.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.59SEK 239
$25.26SEK 236
1.31%
Cinema Ticket
$15.53SEK 145
$17.98SEK 168
-13.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$148SEK 1,383
$175SEK 1,637
-15.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,198SEK 39.2K
$4,215SEK 39.3K
-0.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.0SEK 886
$87.6SEK 817
8.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.12SEK 374
$40.28SEK 376
-0.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.5SEK 900
$96.9SEK 904
-0.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149SEK 1,392
$156SEK 1,458
-4.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$850SEK 7,930
$1,125SEK 10.5K
-24.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$660SEK 6,159
$873SEK 8,148
-24.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,383SEK 12.9K
$1,917SEK 17.9K
-27.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,096SEK 10.2K
$1,434SEK 13.4K
-23.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,727SEK 34.8K
$6,696SEK 62.5K
-44.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,269SEK 30.5K
$3,764SEK 35.1K
-13.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kista
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$3,953SEK 36.9K
-
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Gothenburg: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $850 in Kista and $1,125 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $72.0 in Kista vs $94.0 in Gothenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $360 vs $381 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 14% 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 vs Gothenburg?
You'd need roughly $2,706 in Kista and $3,087 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 vs Gothenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $850 in Kista 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 Kista and Gothenburg?
Childcare runs $148 in Kista 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 Kista 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 $2,000/month in Kista or Gothenburg?
At $1,804 in Kista versus $2,058 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 $1,804 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 14% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.