🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,859 in Ostersund versus $2,063 in Gothenburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,859 in Ostersund versus $3,240 in Gothenburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,860 in Ostersund versus $4,417 in Gothenburg.
🌍Living in Ostersund costs roughly 10% less than in Gothenburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ostersund39% above, Gothenburg54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.60SEK 131
$13.74SEK 133
-1.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.0SEK 705
$91.2SEK 882
-20.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.34SEK 100.0
$10.42SEK 101
-0.77%
Cappuccino
$4.74SEK 45.81
$4.86SEK 46.95
-2.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81SEK 27.17
$3.08SEK 29.74
-8.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50SEK 24.17
$2.56SEK 24.77
-2.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.88SEK 76.2
$7.43SEK 71.8
6.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.80SEK 75.4
$7.72SEK 74.6
1.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49SEK 14.43
$1.76SEK 17.00
-15.34%
White Bread(500g)
$3.01SEK 29.11
$2.87SEK 27.78
4.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.99SEK 48.24
$3.34SEK 32.30
49.40%
Eggs
$3.43SEK 33.18
$4.63SEK 44.80
-25.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.39SEK 139
$11.67SEK 113
23.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.77SEK 114
$12.41SEK 120
-5.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.76SEK 152
$18.65SEK 180
-15.50%
Apples(1kg)
$4.57SEK 44.13
$3.07SEK 29.72
48.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.97SEK 28.71
$2.64SEK 25.56
12.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.67SEK 35.48
$2.93SEK 28.30
25.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.12SEK 39.84
$4.31SEK 41.67
-4.41%
Potato(1kg)
$3.77SEK 36.41
$1.76SEK 16.97
114.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82SEK 17.61
$1.87SEK 18.10
-2.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.53SEK 24.48
$2.22SEK 21.42
13.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58SEK 15.23
$1.59SEK 15.38
-0.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.13SEK 78.6
$7.94SEK 76.8
2.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.10SEK 97.6
$14.36SEK 139
-29.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96SEK 18.96
$2.20SEK 21.25
-10.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89SEK 18.28
$2.53SEK 24.44
-25.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.29SEK 31.76
$3.92SEK 37.94
-16.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.3SEK 718
$90.9SEK 879
-18.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.22SEK 60.1
$10.16SEK 98.2
-38.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59SEK 15.41
$1.67SEK 16.10
-4.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.0SEK 609
$61.6SEK 595
2.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01SEK 19.39
$1.96SEK 18.95
2.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KSEK 312.0K
$32.2KSEK 311.1K
0.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7KSEK 325.4K
$35.6KSEK 343.7K
-5.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115SEK 1,114
$140SEK 1,356
-17.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.32SEK 274
$25.00SEK 242
13.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.23SEK 350
$38.56SEK 373
-6.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.03SEK 387
$41.38SEK 400
-3.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.78SEK 249
$24.81SEK 240
3.91%
Cinema Ticket
$15.71SEK 152
$18.04SEK 174
-12.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$129SEK 1,248
$178SEK 1,719
-27.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,166SEK 40.3K
$4,177SEK 40.4K
-0.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.0SEK 908
$89.5SEK 866
4.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.25SEK 389
$39.39SEK 381
2.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.3SEK 950
$95.4SEK 922
3.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150SEK 1,452
$153SEK 1,474
-1.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$840SEK 8,116
$1,096SEK 10.6K
-23.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$645SEK 6,233
$860SEK 8,314
-25.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,387SEK 13.4K
$1,875SEK 18.1K
-26.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,064SEK 10.3K
$1,404SEK 13.6K
-24.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,780SEK 36.5K
$6,493SEK 62.8K
-41.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,856SEK 27.6K
$3,504SEK 33.9K
-18.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ostersund
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$3,590SEK 34.7K
-
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Gothenburg: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $840 in Ostersund and $1,096 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $73.0 in Ostersund vs $91.0 in Gothenburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $382 vs $377, 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 11% 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 and in Gothenburg?
You'd need roughly $2,788 in Ostersund and $3,094 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 compared to Gothenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $840 in Ostersund versus $1,096 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 in Gothenburg?
Childcare runs $129 in Ostersund versus $178 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 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 $2,500/month in Ostersund or in Gothenburg?
At $1,859 in Ostersund versus $2,063 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 $1,859 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 11% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.