Cost of Living Comparison Between Oldham and Gavle Cost of Living Comparison Between Oldham and Gavle

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,097 in Oldham versus $1,996 in Gavle.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,037 in Oldham versus $2,963 in Gavle.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,976 in Oldham versus $3,931 in Gavle.

Living in Oldham is roughly 5% more expensive than Gavle, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oldham 56% above, Gavle 49% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oldham
Gavle
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.61 £15.35
$12.89 SEK 121
59.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.4 £65.1
$96.5 SEK 906
-9.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.23 £7.62
$10.55 SEK 99.1
-3.03%
Cappuccino
$4.86 £3.62
$5.20 SEK 48.83
-6.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 £1.95
$2.06 SEK 19.37
26.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 £1.29
$2.38 SEK 22.37
-26.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.83 £5.09
$8.59 SEK 80.7
-20.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93 £4.42
$8.38 SEK 78.7
-29.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oldham
Gavle
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 £1.22
$1.72 SEK 16.18
-5.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 £1.27
$2.57 SEK 24.14
-33.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.38 £2.52
$3.90 SEK 36.63
-13.33%
Eggs
$3.93 £2.92
$4.18 SEK 39.29
-5.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.71 £7.98
$9.25 SEK 86.9
15.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 £7.25
$10.31 SEK 96.9
-5.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.44 £12.99
$15.00 SEK 141
16.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 £2.47
$3.33 SEK 31.28
-0.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 £1.42
$2.86 SEK 26.90
-33.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.11 £2.32
$3.48 SEK 32.64
-10.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.71 £2.77
$4.46 SEK 41.86
-16.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 £1.33
$1.88 SEK 17.68
-5.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 £1.40
$1.82 SEK 17.09
3.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 £0.98
$2.60 SEK 24.45
-49.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 £1.08
$1.56 SEK 14.70
-7.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.53 £13.80
$7.80 SEK 73.3
137.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 £7.69
$11.95 SEK 112
-13.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 £2.05
$1.64 SEK 15.40
67.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 £2.55
$1.85 SEK 17.34
84.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Oldham
Gavle
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.45 £2.57
$4.01 SEK 37.69
-13.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.7 £62.4
$58.6 SEK 550
42.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 £4.02
$4.69 SEK 44.04
14.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.74 £1.29
$1.34 SEK 12.56
29.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.60 £25.03
$48.80 SEK 458
-31.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.88 £1.40
$1.82 SEK 17.09
3.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K £28.3K
$29.5K SEK 276.8K
28.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K £30.8K
$33.6K SEK 316.0K
23.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oldham
Gavle
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$303 £226
$85.3 SEK 801
255.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.17 £17.26
$28.10 SEK 264
-17.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.56 £32.44
$41.37 SEK 389
5.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oldham
Gavle
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.04 £35.04
$50.1 SEK 470
-6.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.80 SEK 148
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.68 £9.44
$13.89 SEK 130
-8.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oldham
Gavle
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,584 £1,180
$160 SEK 1,507
887.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,885 £5,128
$6,622 SEK 62.2K
3.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oldham
Gavle
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4 £68.1
$95.4 SEK 896
-4.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.64 £31.02
$48.67 SEK 457
-14.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.5 £65.2
$83.0 SEK 780
5.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.1 £54.4
$157 SEK 1,473
-53.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oldham
Gavle
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 £924
$835 SEK 7,844
48.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$751 £559
$897 SEK 8,427
-16.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,401 £1,044
$1,737 SEK 16.3K
-19.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,110 £827
$1,272 SEK 12.0K
-12.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,020 SEK 19.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,431 SEK 13.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oldham
Gavle
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,457 £1,830
$3,285 SEK 30.9K
-25.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.6
4.1
36.59%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Oldham: May 30, 2026

Last update for Gavle: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,240 in Oldham and $835 in Gavle. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gavle pays 34% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $87.0 in Oldham vs $96.0 in Gavle for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $328 vs $344 per month, with Oldham 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
Oldham vs Gavle: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Oldham and Gavle?
Oldham and Gavle differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($2,097 vs $1,996 including rent). Gavle is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Gavle earns 34% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Oldham and Gavle?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,240 in Oldham versus $835 in Gavle. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Oldham and Gavle?
A monthly transit pass in Gavle runs roughly 43% less than in Oldham. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Oldham and Gavle?
Childcare runs $1,584 in Oldham versus $160 in Gavle. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,996 in Gavle versus $2,097 in Oldham, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Gavle but tight or insufficient in Oldham. The gap between the two cities makes Gavle the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Oldham and Gavle?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Oldham or Gavle safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Oldham and Gavle are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Oldham or Gavle?
Expats usually find Gavle gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Oldham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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