Cost of Living Comparison Between Lund and Gothenburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Lund and Gothenburg

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Lund 43% above, Gothenburg 54% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.55 SEK 121
$13.74 SEK 133
-8.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.3 SEK 825
$91.2 SEK 882
-6.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.20 SEK 118
$10.42 SEK 101
17.08%
Cappuccino
$4.85 SEK 46.92
$4.86 SEK 46.95
-0.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 SEK 27.13
$3.08 SEK 29.74
-8.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 SEK 19.79
$2.56 SEK 24.77
-19.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.22 SEK 79.5
$7.43 SEK 71.8
10.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.32 SEK 70.8
$7.72 SEK 74.6
-5.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 SEK 15.43
$1.76 SEK 17.00
-9.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 SEK 21.34
$2.87 SEK 27.78
-23.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.02 SEK 29.15
$3.34 SEK 32.30
-9.58%
Eggs
$4.55 SEK 44.02
$4.63 SEK 44.80
-1.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.12 SEK 127
$11.67 SEK 113
12.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.78 SEK 114
$12.41 SEK 120
-5.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.28 SEK 167
$18.65 SEK 180
-7.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.18 SEK 30.70
$3.07 SEK 29.72
3.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.77 SEK 26.81
$2.64 SEK 25.56
4.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.77 SEK 26.75
$2.93 SEK 28.30
-5.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.55 SEK 43.94
$4.31 SEK 41.67
5.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 SEK 16.01
$1.76 SEK 16.97
-5.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 SEK 15.25
$1.87 SEK 18.10
-15.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.60 SEK 25.14
$2.22 SEK 21.42
17.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 SEK 12.29
$1.59 SEK 15.38
-20.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.18 SEK 79.1
$7.94 SEK 76.8
3.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.23 SEK 109
$14.36 SEK 139
-21.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 SEK 18.98
$2.20 SEK 21.25
-10.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 SEK 21.64
$2.53 SEK 24.44
-11.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.34 SEK 32.33
$3.92 SEK 37.94
-14.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.4 SEK 652
$90.9 SEK 879
-25.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.40 SEK 52.3
$10.16 SEK 98.2
-46.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 SEK 18.21
$1.67 SEK 16.10
12.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$63.0 SEK 609
$61.6 SEK 595
2.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 SEK 18.40
$1.96 SEK 18.95
-3.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K SEK 316.0K
$32.2K SEK 311.1K
1.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K SEK 329.9K
$35.6K SEK 343.7K
-4.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 SEK 1,179
$140 SEK 1,356
-13.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.99 SEK 280
$25.00 SEK 242
15.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.22 SEK 398
$38.56 SEK 373
6.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.68 SEK 374
$41.38 SEK 400
-6.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.09 SEK 233
$24.81 SEK 240
-2.90%
Cinema Ticket
$18.17 SEK 176
$18.04 SEK 174
0.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$179 SEK 1,730
$178 SEK 1,719
0.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,129 SEK 39.9K
$4,177 SEK 40.4K
-1.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.3 SEK 776
$89.5 SEK 866
-10.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.1 SEK 581
$39.39 SEK 381
52.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 SEK 1,002
$95.4 SEK 922
8.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 SEK 1,259
$153 SEK 1,474
-14.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$981 SEK 9,483
$1,096 SEK 10.6K
-10.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$763 SEK 7,371
$860 SEK 8,314
-11.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 SEK 15.6K
$1,875 SEK 18.1K
-13.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,307 SEK 12.6K
$1,404 SEK 13.6K
-6.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,408 SEK 61.9K
$6,493 SEK 62.8K
-1.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,682 SEK 35.6K
$3,504 SEK 33.9K
5.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,972 SEK 28.7K
$3,590 SEK 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.

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