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: $1,949 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: Lund 45% above, Gothenburg 54% above.

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

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