😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,681 in Traverse City, MI versus $2,058 in Gothenburg.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,892 in Traverse City, MI versus $3,193 in Gothenburg.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,102 in Traverse City, MI versus $4,328 in Gothenburg.
😐Living in Traverse City, MI is roughly 30% more expensive than Gothenburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Traverse City, MI100% above, Gothenburg54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Traverse City, MI
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.17$18.17
$13.74SEK 128
32.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3$70.3
$93.9SEK 876
-25.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.96$9.96
$10.34SEK 96.5
-3.68%
Cappuccino
$4.47$4.47
$4.73SEK 44.18
-5.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44$2.44
$2.97SEK 27.70
-17.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64$1.64
$2.53SEK 23.64
-35.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.44$5.44
$7.26SEK 67.8
-25.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.03$6.03
$7.72SEK 72.0
-21.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Traverse City, MI
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$1.68SEK 15.67
-49.40%
White Bread(500g)
$3.45$3.45
$2.85SEK 26.62
21.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.36$4.36
$3.32SEK 30.95
31.33%
Eggs
$3.31$3.31
$4.65SEK 43.41
-28.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.43$15.43
$11.80SEK 110
30.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.03$12.03
$12.61SEK 118
-4.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.69$14.69
$19.02SEK 178
-22.77%
Apples(1kg)
$6.78$6.78
$3.10SEK 28.92
118.71%
Banana(1kg)
$0.90$0.90
$2.74SEK 25.54
-67.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.38$3.38
$2.91SEK 27.11
16.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.98$5.98
$4.18SEK 38.96
43.06%
Potato(1kg)
$2.19$2.19
$1.66SEK 15.50
31.93%
Onion(1kg)
$3.46$3.46
$1.85SEK 17.25
87.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.45$2.45
$2.27SEK 21.22
7.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.46$2.46
$1.55SEK 14.46
58.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.82$8.82
$7.82SEK 73.0
12.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.04$15.04
$15.32SEK 143
-1.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76$1.76
$2.26SEK 21.08
-22.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68$3.68
$2.61SEK 24.32
41.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Traverse City, MI
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.11$6.11
$3.80SEK 35.45
60.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.74$29.74
$88.6SEK 827
-66.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.62$4.62
$10.11SEK 94.3
-54.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.61$1.61
$1.66SEK 15.48
-3.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.85$27.85
$61.7SEK 576
-54.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92$0.92
$1.89SEK 17.64
-51.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K$24.9K
$32.0KSEK 298.9K
-22.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K$24.0K
$34.5KSEK 321.6K
-30.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Traverse City, MI
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$118$118
$138SEK 1,292
-14.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.54$44.54
$24.95SEK 233
78.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.5$61.5
$38.25SEK 357
60.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Traverse City, MI
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.3$69.3
$41.78SEK 390
65.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.26SEK 236
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.85$10.85
$17.98SEK 168
-39.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Traverse City, MI
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$934$934
$175SEK 1,637
432.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.4K$21.4K
$4,215SEK 39.3K
407.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Traverse City, MI
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.7$63.7
$87.6SEK 817
-27.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1$56.1
$40.28SEK 376
39.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.5$98.5
$96.9SEK 904
1.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.0$98.0
$156SEK 1,458
-37.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Traverse City, MI
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,800$1,800
$1,125SEK 10.5K
59.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,409$1,409
$873SEK 8,148
61.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,834$3,834
$1,917SEK 17.9K
99.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,305$2,305
$1,434SEK 13.4K
60.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,089$5,089
$6,696SEK 62.5K
-24.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,644$3,644
$3,764SEK 35.1K
-3.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Traverse City, MI
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,820$2,820
$3,953SEK 36.9K
-28.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.35
4.33
46.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Traverse City, MI: May 31, 2026
Last update for Gothenburg: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,800 in Traverse City, MI and $1,125 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gothenburg pays 40% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Traverse City, MI vs $94.0 in Gothenburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $406 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
Traverse City, MI vs Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Traverse City, MI or Gothenburg?
Gothenburg wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Traverse City, MI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gothenburg the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Traverse City, MI or Gothenburg?
On paper, Gothenburg earns 40% 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 Traverse City, MI vs Gothenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,800 in Traverse City, MI 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 Traverse City, MI and Gothenburg?
Childcare runs $934 in Traverse City, MI 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 Traverse City, MI or Gothenburg?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Traverse City, MI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Traverse City, MI or Gothenburg?
At $2,058 in Gothenburg versus $2,681 in Traverse City, MI, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gothenburg but tight or insufficient in Traverse City, MI. The gap between the two cities makes Gothenburg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Traverse City, MI or Gothenburg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Gothenburg delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,058 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Gothenburg hard to pass up.
How safe is Traverse City, MI compared to Gothenburg?
Safety-wise, Traverse City, MI 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 Gothenburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Traverse City, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Traverse City, MI vs other spots: cost of living compared