Cost of Living Comparison Between Tuscaloosa, AL and Gothenburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Tuscaloosa, AL and Gothenburg

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,055 in Tuscaloosa, AL versus $2,113 in Gothenburg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,355 in Tuscaloosa, AL versus $3,197 in Gothenburg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,655 in Tuscaloosa, AL versus $4,282 in Gothenburg.

Living in Tuscaloosa, AL costs roughly 3% less than in Gothenburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tuscaloosa, AL 53% above, Gothenburg 58% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Tuscaloosa, AL
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.89 $16.89
$13.60 SEKย 125
24.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.6 $63.6
$92.0 SEKย 846
-30.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.99 $9.99
$10.52 SEKย 96.8
-5.04%
Cappuccino
$5.15 $5.15
$4.96 SEKย 45.68
3.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$3.07 SEKย 28.25
-21.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 $1.65
$2.63 SEKย 24.19
-37.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.87 $4.87
$7.58 SEKย 69.8
-35.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.55 $6.55
$7.97 SEKย 73.3
-17.82%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Tuscaloosa, AL
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.71 SEKย 15.73
-34.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.01 SEKย 27.66
14.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.48 $7.48
$3.32 SEKย 30.54
125.30%
Eggs
$3.56 $3.56
$4.62 SEKย 42.53
-22.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.69 $12.69
$11.58 SEKย 107
9.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.18 $14.18
$12.56 SEKย 116
12.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.89 $19.89
$18.93 SEKย 174
5.07%
Apples (1kg)
$6.62 $6.62
$3.18 SEKย 29.26
108.18%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.68 SEKย 24.66
-22.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$10.84 $10.84
$2.94 SEKย 27.04
268.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.37 $6.37
$4.21 SEKย 38.75
51.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.72 SEKย 15.83
-1.16%
Onion (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$1.93 SEKย 17.73
105.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.27 SEKย 20.90
11.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.54 SEKย 14.19
36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.09 $9.09
$7.85 SEKย 72.2
15.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.73 $15.73
$12.53 SEKย 115
25.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.25 SEKย 20.70
-24.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 $4.94
$2.58 SEKย 23.78
91.47%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Tuscaloosa, AL
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$3.96 SEKย 36.44
-48.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$88.6 SEKย 815
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 $3.56
$10.46 SEKย 96.3
-65.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.67 SEKย 15.35
-11.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.63 $29.63
$63.0 SEKย 580
-53.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.89 SEKย 17.43
-59.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$33.0K SEKย 303.4K
-10.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$35.0K SEKย 321.9K
-27.40%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tuscaloosa, AL
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 $184
$141 SEKย 1,294
30.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.9 $53.9
$25.24 SEKย 232
113.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.7 $74.7
$38.61 SEKย 355
93.45%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Tuscaloosa, AL
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.8 $58.8
$40.96 SEKย 377
43.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.24 $39.24
$24.80 SEKย 228
58.23%
Cinema Ticket
$14.94 $14.94
$17.54 SEKย 161
-14.82%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Tuscaloosa, AL
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,311 $1,311
$175 SEKย 1,614
647.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$4,120 SEKย 37.9K
466.45%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Tuscaloosa, AL
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.74 $43.74
$87.5 SEKย 805
-49.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.89 $30.89
$40.39 SEKย 372
-23.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$55.6 $55.6
$97.5 SEKย 897
-43.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.2 $69.2
$154 SEKย 1,414
-54.99%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Tuscaloosa, AL
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,109 $1,109
$1,104 SEKย 10.2K
0.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$792 $792
$870 SEKย 8,005
-9.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,929 $2,929
$1,885 SEKย 17.3K
55.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,780 $1,780
$1,403 SEKย 12.9K
26.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,843 $1,843
$6,641 SEKย 61.1K
-72.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,819 $1,819
$3,944 SEKย 36.3K
-53.88%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Tuscaloosa, AL
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,479 $3,479
$3,970 SEKย 36.5K
-12.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
4.33
50.12%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tuscaloosa, AL: April 22, 2026

Last update for Gothenburg: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,109 in Tuscaloosa, AL and $1,104 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gothenburg pays 14% 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: $64 in Tuscaloosa, AL vs $92 in Gothenburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $477 vs $376, 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
Tuscaloosa, AL vs Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tuscaloosa, AL or Gothenburg?
Tuscaloosa, AL wins on cost โ€“ living expenses run 3% lower than in Gothenburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tuscaloosa, AL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tuscaloosa, AL or Gothenburg?
On paper, Gothenburg earns 14% 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 Tuscaloosa, AL vs Gothenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,109 in Tuscaloosa, AL versus $1,104 in Gothenburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Tuscaloosa, AL and Gothenburg?
Childcare runs $1,311 in Tuscaloosa, AL versus $175 in Gothenburg. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Tuscaloosa, AL vs Gothenburg?
Dining out is cheaper in Tuscaloosa, AL โ€“ a meal for two runs $64.0 versus $92.0 in Gothenburg. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tuscaloosa, AL or Gothenburg?
At $2,055 in Tuscaloosa, AL versus $2,113 in Gothenburg, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tuscaloosa, AL but tight or insufficient in Gothenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Tuscaloosa, AL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tuscaloosa, AL or Gothenburg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tuscaloosa, AL delivers better value โ€“ similar infrastructure at $2,055 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tuscaloosa, AL hard to pass up.
How safe is Tuscaloosa, AL compared to Gothenburg?
Safety-wise, Tuscaloosa, AL 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 Tuscaloosa, AL gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 3% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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