🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,949 in Lund versus $2,058 in Gothenburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,033 in Lund versus $3,193 in Gothenburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,117 in Lund versus $4,328 in Gothenburg.
🙂Living in Lund costs roughly 5% less than in Gothenburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lund45% above, Gothenburg54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.42SEK 116
$13.74SEK 128
-9.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.7SEK 799
$93.9SEK 876
-8.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.98SEK 112
$10.34SEK 96.5
15.86%
Cappuccino
$5.01SEK 46.78
$4.73SEK 44.18
5.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83SEK 26.39
$2.97SEK 27.70
-4.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07SEK 19.33
$2.53SEK 23.64
-18.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.27SEK 77.2
$7.26SEK 67.8
13.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.53SEK 70.3
$7.72SEK 72.0
-2.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62SEK 15.11
$1.68SEK 15.67
-3.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.23SEK 20.80
$2.85SEK 26.62
-21.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92SEK 27.24
$3.32SEK 30.95
-12.05%
Eggs
$4.42SEK 41.20
$4.65SEK 43.41
-4.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.89SEK 120
$11.80SEK 110
9.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.41SEK 106
$12.61SEK 118
-9.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.35SEK 162
$19.02SEK 178
-8.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.20SEK 29.89
$3.10SEK 28.92
3.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.89SEK 26.99
$2.74SEK 25.54
5.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.90SEK 27.05
$2.91SEK 27.11
-0.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.42SEK 41.23
$4.18SEK 38.96
5.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67SEK 15.61
$1.66SEK 15.50
0.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63SEK 15.23
$1.85SEK 17.25
-11.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.63SEK 24.52
$2.27SEK 21.22
15.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29SEK 12.01
$1.55SEK 14.46
-16.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.10SEK 75.6
$7.82SEK 73.0
3.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.86SEK 111
$15.32SEK 143
-22.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04SEK 18.99
$2.26SEK 21.08
-9.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15SEK 20.04
$2.61SEK 24.32
-17.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.42SEK 31.92
$3.80SEK 35.45
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.2SEK 627
$88.6SEK 827
-24.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.40SEK 50.4
$10.11SEK 94.3
-46.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90SEK 17.74
$1.66SEK 15.48
14.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.6SEK 584
$61.7SEK 576
1.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98SEK 18.44
$1.89SEK 17.64
4.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8KSEK 306.3K
$32.0KSEK 298.9K
2.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3KSEK 319.9K
$34.5KSEK 321.6K
-0.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123SEK 1,148
$138SEK 1,292
-11.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.49SEK 266
$24.95SEK 233
14.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.60SEK 388
$38.25SEK 357
8.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.20SEK 366
$41.78SEK 390
-6.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.29SEK 227
$25.26SEK 236
-3.84%
Cinema Ticket
$17.86SEK 167
$17.98SEK 168
-0.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$176SEK 1,638
$175SEK 1,637
0.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,218SEK 39.4K
$4,215SEK 39.3K
0.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.1SEK 738
$87.6SEK 817
-9.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.3SEK 563
$40.28SEK 376
49.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104SEK 971
$96.9SEK 904
7.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127SEK 1,187
$156SEK 1,458
-18.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$970SEK 9,054
$1,125SEK 10.5K
-13.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$757SEK 7,060
$873SEK 8,148
-13.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644SEK 15.3K
$1,917SEK 17.9K
-14.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,314SEK 12.3K
$1,434SEK 13.4K
-8.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,660SEK 62.1K
$6,696SEK 62.5K
-0.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,858SEK 36.0K
$3,764SEK 35.1K
2.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lund
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,140SEK 29.3K
$3,953SEK 36.9K
-20.58%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Gothenburg: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $970 in Lund and $1,125 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gothenburg pays 26% 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: $86.0 in Lund vs $94.0 in Gothenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $355 vs $381 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 6% 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 Gothenburg?
On paper, Gothenburg earns 26% less. 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 vs Gothenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $970 in Lund 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 Lund and Gothenburg?
Childcare runs $176 in Lund 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 Lund or Gothenburg?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% 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 Gothenburg?
At $1,949 in Lund versus $2,058 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 $1,949 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 6% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.