🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,865 in Lulea versus $2,063 in Gothenburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,060 in Lulea versus $3,240 in Gothenburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,256 in Lulea versus $4,417 in Gothenburg.
🌍Living in Lulea costs roughly 10% less than in Gothenburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lulea40% above, Gothenburg54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lulea
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.56SEK 121
$13.74SEK 132
-8.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.6SEK 911
$91.2SEK 879
3.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.60SEK 112
$10.42SEK 100
11.32%
Cappuccino
$4.87SEK 46.91
$4.86SEK 46.80
0.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55SEK 24.56
$3.08SEK 29.65
-17.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97SEK 19.01
$2.56SEK 24.69
-23.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.57SEK 82.6
$7.43SEK 71.6
15.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.97SEK 96.0
$7.72SEK 74.4
29.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lulea
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93SEK 18.64
$1.76SEK 16.94
9.66%
White Bread(500g)
$3.42SEK 32.98
$2.87SEK 27.70
19.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.07SEK 48.86
$3.34SEK 32.20
51.80%
Eggs
$4.74SEK 45.70
$4.63SEK 44.66
2.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.76SEK 123
$11.67SEK 113
9.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.05SEK 135
$12.41SEK 120
13.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.00SEK 270
$18.65SEK 180
50.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61SEK 25.15
$3.07SEK 29.63
-14.98%
Banana(1kg)
$2.76SEK 26.58
$2.64SEK 25.48
4.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60SEK 25.03
$2.93SEK 28.21
-11.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.36SEK 42.04
$4.31SEK 41.54
1.16%
Potato(1kg)
$2.23SEK 21.48
$1.76SEK 16.92
26.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66SEK 15.95
$1.87SEK 18.05
-11.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.48SEK 33.52
$2.22SEK 21.35
56.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44SEK 13.84
$1.59SEK 15.33
-9.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.42SEK 71.5
$7.94SEK 76.6
-6.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.34SEK 119
$14.36SEK 138
-14.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88SEK 18.15
$2.20SEK 21.19
-14.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85SEK 17.87
$2.53SEK 24.36
-26.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Lulea
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.36SEK 32.35
$3.92SEK 37.82
-14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.3SEK 562
$90.9SEK 876
-35.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.54SEK 91.9
$10.16SEK 97.9
-6.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73SEK 16.68
$1.67SEK 16.05
3.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$74.5SEK 718
$61.6SEK 593
20.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 18.22
$1.96SEK 18.89
-3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KSEK 310.2K
$32.2KSEK 310.1K
0.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KSEK 343.7K
$35.6KSEK 342.7K
0.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176SEK 1,692
$140SEK 1,352
25.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.87SEK 307
$25.00SEK 241
27.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.56SEK 275
$38.56SEK 372
-25.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.58SEK 468
$41.38SEK 399
17.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.54SEK 352
$24.81SEK 239
47.28%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73SEK 132
$18.04SEK 174
-23.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lulea
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163SEK 1,566
$178SEK 1,714
-8.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,827SEK 56.2K
$4,177SEK 40.2K
39.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$124SEK 1,190
$89.5SEK 863
37.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.60SEK 324
$39.39SEK 380
-14.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130SEK 1,252
$95.4SEK 919
36.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170SEK 1,643
$153SEK 1,470
11.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lulea
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$806SEK 7,765
$1,096SEK 10.6K
-26.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$589SEK 5,675
$860SEK 8,288
-31.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,441SEK 13.9K
$1,875SEK 18.1K
-23.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,081SEK 10.4K
$1,404SEK 13.5K
-23.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,107SEK 29.9K
$6,493SEK 62.6K
-52.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,323SEK 22.4K
$3,504SEK 33.8K
-33.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lulea
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,654SEK 25.6K
$3,590SEK 34.6K
-26.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.2
4.33
-3.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lulea: July 11, 2026
Last update for Gothenburg: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $806 in Lulea and $1,096 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gothenburg pays 35% 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: $95.0 in Lulea vs $91.0 in Gothenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $426 vs $377 per month, with Gothenburg 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
Lulea vs Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lulea or Gothenburg?
Lulea wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Gothenburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lulea the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lulea or in Gothenburg?
On paper, salaries run 35% 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 Lulea compared to Gothenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $806 in Lulea 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 Lulea and in Gothenburg?
Childcare runs $163 in Lulea 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 Lulea or in Gothenburg?
Shoppers in Gothenburg pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lulea or in Gothenburg?
At $1,865 in Lulea versus $2,063 in Gothenburg, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lulea but tight or insufficient in Gothenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Lulea the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lulea or Gothenburg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lulea delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,865 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lulea hard to pass up.
How safe is Lulea compared to Gothenburg?
Safety-wise, Lulea 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 Lulea gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.