🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,904 in Lund versus $2,063 in Gothenburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,030 in Lund versus $3,240 in Gothenburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,156 in Lund versus $4,417 in Gothenburg.
🌍Living in Lund costs roughly 8% less than in Gothenburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lund43% above, Gothenburg54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.55SEK 121
$13.74SEK 133
-8.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.3SEK 825
$91.2SEK 882
-6.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.20SEK 118
$10.42SEK 101
17.08%
Cappuccino
$4.85SEK 46.92
$4.86SEK 46.95
-0.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81SEK 27.13
$3.08SEK 29.74
-8.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05SEK 19.79
$2.56SEK 24.77
-19.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.22SEK 79.5
$7.43SEK 71.8
10.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.32SEK 70.8
$7.72SEK 74.6
-5.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60SEK 15.43
$1.76SEK 17.00
-9.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.21SEK 21.34
$2.87SEK 27.78
-23.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.02SEK 29.15
$3.34SEK 32.30
-9.58%
Eggs
$4.55SEK 44.02
$4.63SEK 44.80
-1.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.12SEK 127
$11.67SEK 113
12.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.78SEK 114
$12.41SEK 120
-5.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.28SEK 167
$18.65SEK 180
-7.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18SEK 30.70
$3.07SEK 29.72
3.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.77SEK 26.81
$2.64SEK 25.56
4.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.77SEK 26.75
$2.93SEK 28.30
-5.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.55SEK 43.94
$4.31SEK 41.67
5.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66SEK 16.01
$1.76SEK 16.97
-5.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.58SEK 15.25
$1.87SEK 18.10
-15.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.60SEK 25.14
$2.22SEK 21.42
17.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27SEK 12.29
$1.59SEK 15.38
-20.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.18SEK 79.1
$7.94SEK 76.8
3.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.23SEK 109
$14.36SEK 139
-21.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96SEK 18.98
$2.20SEK 21.25
-10.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24SEK 21.64
$2.53SEK 24.44
-11.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.34SEK 32.33
$3.92SEK 37.94
-14.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.4SEK 652
$90.9SEK 879
-25.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.40SEK 52.3
$10.16SEK 98.2
-46.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.88SEK 18.21
$1.67SEK 16.10
12.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.0SEK 609
$61.6SEK 595
2.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90SEK 18.40
$1.96SEK 18.95
-3.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7KSEK 316.0K
$32.2KSEK 311.1K
1.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KSEK 329.9K
$35.6KSEK 343.7K
-4.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122SEK 1,179
$140SEK 1,356
-13.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.99SEK 280
$25.00SEK 242
15.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.22SEK 398
$38.56SEK 373
6.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.68SEK 374
$41.38SEK 400
-6.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.09SEK 233
$24.81SEK 240
-2.90%
Cinema Ticket
$18.17SEK 176
$18.04SEK 174
0.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$179SEK 1,730
$178SEK 1,719
0.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,129SEK 39.9K
$4,177SEK 40.4K
-1.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.3SEK 776
$89.5SEK 866
-10.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.1SEK 581
$39.39SEK 381
52.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104SEK 1,002
$95.4SEK 922
8.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130SEK 1,259
$153SEK 1,474
-14.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$981SEK 9,483
$1,096SEK 10.6K
-10.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$763SEK 7,371
$860SEK 8,314
-11.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,615SEK 15.6K
$1,875SEK 18.1K
-13.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,307SEK 12.6K
$1,404SEK 13.6K
-6.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,408SEK 61.9K
$6,493SEK 62.8K
-1.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,682SEK 35.6K
$3,504SEK 33.9K
5.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,972SEK 28.7K
$3,590SEK 34.7K
-17.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.8
4.33
10.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lund: July 13, 2026
Last update for Gothenburg: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $981 in Lund and $1,096 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gothenburg pays 21% 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: $85.0 in Lund vs $91.0 in Gothenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $355 vs $377 per month, with Lund 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
Lund vs Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lund or Gothenburg?
Lund wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Gothenburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lund the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lund or in Gothenburg?
On paper, salaries run 21% 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 Lund compared to Gothenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $981 in Lund 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 Lund and in Gothenburg?
Childcare runs $179 in Lund 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 Lund 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 Lund or in Gothenburg?
At $1,904 in Lund versus $2,063 in Gothenburg, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lund but tight or insufficient in Gothenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Lund the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lund or Gothenburg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lund delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,904 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lund hard to pass up.
How safe is Lund compared to Gothenburg?
Safety-wise, Lund 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 Lund gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.