🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,854 in Lund versus $2,128 in Gothenburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,027 in Lund versus $3,175 in Gothenburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,201 in Lund versus $4,222 in Gothenburg.
🌍Living in Lund costs roughly 13% less than in Gothenburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lund35% above, Gothenburg55% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.54SEK 130
$13.76SEK 133
-1.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.6SEK 911
$91.9SEK 885
2.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.34SEK 119
$12.84SEK 124
-3.89%
Cappuccino
$4.79SEK 46.16
$5.06SEK 48.77
-5.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78SEK 26.80
$2.94SEK 28.33
-5.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12SEK 20.45
$2.19SEK 21.08
-3.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.13SEK 78.3
$7.18SEK 69.2
13.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51SEK 72.4
$7.86SEK 75.7
-4.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73SEK 16.68
$1.80SEK 17.30
-3.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.74SEK 26.40
$2.77SEK 26.68
-1.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.77SEK 36.31
$3.17SEK 30.49
18.93%
Eggs
$4.58SEK 44.13
$4.10SEK 39.45
11.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.16SEK 127
$12.10SEK 117
8.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.10SEK 117
$11.67SEK 112
3.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.47SEK 168
$17.76SEK 171
-1.63%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14SEK 30.28
$3.23SEK 31.09
-2.79%
Banana(1kg)
$2.98SEK 28.73
$2.64SEK 25.42
12.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.97SEK 28.56
$3.22SEK 31.00
-7.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.82SEK 46.44
$4.37SEK 42.11
10.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86SEK 17.94
$1.82SEK 17.52
2.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43SEK 13.81
$1.68SEK 16.13
-14.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.78SEK 26.82
$2.03SEK 19.51
36.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52SEK 14.65
$1.78SEK 17.13
-14.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.29SEK 79.8
$8.50SEK 81.8
-2.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.62SEK 112
$14.55SEK 140
-20.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99SEK 19.21
$2.20SEK 21.16
-9.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76SEK 26.61
$2.38SEK 22.91
15.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.25SEK 31.34
$3.85SEK 37.06
-15.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.2SEK 638
$88.8SEK 855
-25.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.36SEK 51.7
$6.45SEK 62.1
-16.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.16SEK 11.13
$1.73SEK 16.62
-32.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.94SEK 414
$61.3SEK 590
-29.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87SEK 18.02
$1.90SEK 18.34
-1.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0KSEK 336.9K
$34.0KSEK 327.1K
3.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KSEK 326.5K
$34.4KSEK 330.9K
-1.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.2SEK 792
$110SEK 1,060
-25.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.06SEK 309
$19.66SEK 189
63.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.65SEK 420
$36.30SEK 350
20.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.47SEK 371
$37.94SEK 365
1.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.42SEK 274
$25.89SEK 249
9.77%
Cinema Ticket
$15.94SEK 153
$19.34SEK 186
-17.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$167SEK 1,610
$230SEK 2,212
-27.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$4,554SEK 43.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.8SEK 816
$91.0SEK 876
-6.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7SEK 584
$34.36SEK 331
76.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106SEK 1,017
$94.0SEK 906
12.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130SEK 1,252
$135SEK 1,303
-3.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$870SEK 8,380
$1,061SEK 10.2K
-18.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715SEK 6,891
$961SEK 9,255
-25.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,824SEK 17.6K
$1,849SEK 17.8K
-1.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,449SEK 14.0K
$1,440SEK 13.9K
0.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,563SEK 63.2K
$6,496SEK 62.6K
1.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,707SEK 35.7K
$3,613SEK 34.8K
2.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,096SEK 29.8K
$3,639SEK 35.0K
-14.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.03
3.06
-0.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lund: August 31, 2026
Last update for Gothenburg: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $870 in Lund and $1,061 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gothenburg pays 18% 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 Lund vs $92.0 in Gothenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $372 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
Lund vs Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lund or Gothenburg?
Lund wins on cost – living expenses run 15% 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 18% 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: $870 in Lund versus $1,061 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 $167 in Lund versus $230 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?
Shoppers in Gothenburg pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lund or in Gothenburg?
At $1,854 in Lund versus $2,128 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 $1,854 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 15% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.