🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,802 in Ostersund versus $2,058 in Gothenburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,847 in Ostersund versus $3,193 in Gothenburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,892 in Ostersund versus $4,328 in Gothenburg.
🙂Living in Ostersund costs roughly 12% less than in Gothenburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ostersund34% above, Gothenburg54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.38SEK 125
$13.74SEK 128
-2.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.5SEK 677
$93.9SEK 876
-22.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.76SEK 100
$10.34SEK 96.5
4.06%
Cappuccino
$4.70SEK 43.81
$4.73SEK 44.18
-0.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82SEK 26.29
$2.97SEK 27.70
-5.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41SEK 22.49
$2.53SEK 23.64
-4.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.59SEK 70.8
$7.26SEK 67.8
4.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.83SEK 73.1
$7.72SEK 72.0
1.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56SEK 14.58
$1.68SEK 15.67
-7.14%
White Bread(500g)
$3.05SEK 28.45
$2.85SEK 26.62
7.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.90SEK 45.74
$3.32SEK 30.95
47.59%
Eggs
$3.59SEK 33.50
$4.65SEK 43.41
-22.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.51SEK 135
$11.80SEK 110
22.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.72SEK 109
$12.61SEK 118
-7.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.19SEK 151
$19.02SEK 178
-14.88%
Apples(1kg)
$4.53SEK 42.24
$3.10SEK 28.92
46.13%
Banana(1kg)
$3.09SEK 28.80
$2.74SEK 25.54
12.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.64SEK 33.95
$2.91SEK 27.11
25.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.14SEK 38.63
$4.18SEK 38.96
-0.96%
Potato(1kg)
$3.73SEK 34.77
$1.66SEK 15.50
124.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78SEK 16.61
$1.85SEK 17.25
-3.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.50SEK 23.36
$2.27SEK 21.22
10.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51SEK 14.09
$1.55SEK 14.46
-2.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.21SEK 76.6
$7.82SEK 73.0
4.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.85SEK 101
$15.32SEK 143
-29.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91SEK 17.82
$2.26SEK 21.08
-15.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95SEK 18.18
$2.61SEK 24.32
-25.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.44SEK 32.07
$3.80SEK 35.45
-9.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.1SEK 691
$88.6SEK 827
-16.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.43SEK 60.0
$10.11SEK 94.3
-36.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64SEK 15.34
$1.66SEK 15.48
-1.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.1SEK 579
$61.7SEK 576
0.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09SEK 19.51
$1.89SEK 17.64
10.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0KSEK 308.4K
$32.0KSEK 298.9K
3.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 320.6K
$34.5KSEK 321.6K
-0.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114SEK 1,067
$138SEK 1,292
-17.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.69SEK 268
$24.95SEK 233
14.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.81SEK 343
$38.25SEK 357
-3.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.30SEK 385
$41.78SEK 390
-1.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.71SEK 240
$25.26SEK 236
1.78%
Cinema Ticket
$15.52SEK 145
$17.98SEK 168
-13.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$132SEK 1,233
$175SEK 1,637
-24.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,119SEK 38.4K
$4,215SEK 39.3K
-2.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.1SEK 878
$87.6SEK 817
7.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.96SEK 382
$40.28SEK 376
1.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.1SEK 924
$96.9SEK 904
2.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151SEK 1,413
$156SEK 1,458
-3.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$831SEK 7,756
$1,125SEK 10.5K
-26.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$655SEK 6,113
$873SEK 8,148
-24.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,390SEK 13.0K
$1,917SEK 17.9K
-27.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,097SEK 10.2K
$1,434SEK 13.4K
-23.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,366SEK 40.7K
$6,696SEK 62.5K
-34.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,010SEK 28.1K
$3,764SEK 35.1K
-20.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$3,953SEK 36.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
4.33
4.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ostersund: May 30, 2026
Last update for Gothenburg: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $831 in Ostersund and $1,125 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $73.0 in Ostersund vs $94.0 in Gothenburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $385 vs $381, with Gothenburg cheaper for home cooking.
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
Ostersund vs Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ostersund or Gothenburg?
Ostersund wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Gothenburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ostersund the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ostersund vs Gothenburg?
You'd need roughly $2,703 in Ostersund and $3,087 in Gothenburg to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ostersund vs Gothenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $831 in Ostersund 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 Ostersund and Gothenburg?
Childcare runs $132 in Ostersund 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 Ostersund or 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 $2,500/month in Ostersund or Gothenburg?
At $1,802 in Ostersund versus $2,058 in Gothenburg, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Ostersund but tight or insufficient in Gothenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Ostersund the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ostersund or Gothenburg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ostersund delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,802 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ostersund hard to pass up.
How safe is Ostersund compared to Gothenburg?
Safety-wise, Ostersund 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 Ostersund gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.