Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Uppsala and Gothenburg

For one person, living costs are similar in Uppsala and in Gothenburg: $1,978 and $2,026 a month, rent and utilities included.

Uppsala
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,978
/mo nomad
Gothenburg
🇸🇪 Sweden
$2,026
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Uppsala and in Gothenburg

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Uppsala and in Gothenburg actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,978 in Uppsala versus $2,026 in Gothenburg.

  • Uppsala $1,978
  • Gothenburg $2,026

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,051 in Uppsala versus $3,062 in Gothenburg.

  • Uppsala $3,051
  • Gothenburg $3,062

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,124 in Uppsala versus $4,099 in Gothenburg.

  • Uppsala $4,124
  • Gothenburg $4,099

Living in Uppsala costs roughly 2% less than in Gothenburg, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Uppsala 46% above, Gothenburg 50% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uppsala
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.90 SEK 148
$13.13 SEK 130
13.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.0 SEK 802
$83.8 SEK 830
-3.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.87 SEK 97.8
$12.47 SEK 124
-20.85%
Cappuccino
$4.98 SEK 49.39
$5.03 SEK 49.80
-0.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 SEK 30.25
$2.84 SEK 28.14
7.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 SEK 23.74
$2.37 SEK 23.44
1.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.96 SEK 78.9
$6.84 SEK 67.8
16.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.87 SEK 97.8
$7.51 SEK 74.4
31.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uppsala
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 SEK 17.91
$1.68 SEK 16.68
7.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 SEK 27.57
$2.69 SEK 26.63
3.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.59 SEK 45.48
$3.09 SEK 30.60
48.54%
Eggs
$5.05 SEK 50.1
$3.81 SEK 37.74
32.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.12 SEK 100
$11.45 SEK 113
-11.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.77 SEK 146
$11.32 SEK 112
30.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.86 SEK 177
$16.54 SEK 164
7.98%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 SEK 41.42
$3.07 SEK 30.42
36.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 SEK 27.06
$2.41 SEK 23.88
13.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.49 SEK 34.63
$3.01 SEK 29.83
15.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.12 SEK 50.7
$4.25 SEK 42.09
20.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 SEK 19.20
$1.74 SEK 17.24
11.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.70 SEK 16.80
$1.62 SEK 16.06
4.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.64 SEK 26.21
$1.96 SEK 19.47
34.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 SEK 12.68
$1.65 SEK 16.30
-22.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.96 SEK 78.9
$8.38 SEK 83.0
-5.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 SEK 98.2
$14.69 SEK 146
-32.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 SEK 24.51
$2.03 SEK 20.14
21.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 SEK 24.94
$2.24 SEK 22.24
12.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Uppsala
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.92 SEK 38.80
$3.63 SEK 35.97
7.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 SEK 1,103
$86.4 SEK 857
28.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.33 SEK 52.8
$5.92 SEK 58.7
-9.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.32 SEK 13.13
$1.72 SEK 17.01
-23.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.3 SEK 607
$58.6 SEK 581
4.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.77 SEK 17.54
$1.74 SEK 17.29
1.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K SEK 329.1K
$33.5K SEK 331.8K
-0.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K SEK 318.3K
$33.4K SEK 331.3K
-3.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uppsala
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 SEK 1,077
$102 SEK 1,011
6.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.95 SEK 158
$19.73 SEK 196
-19.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.42 SEK 470
$33.00 SEK 327
43.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uppsala
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.13 SEK 388
$35.48 SEK 352
10.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.27 SEK 231
$24.00 SEK 238
-3.04%
Cinema Ticket
$18.61 SEK 184
$18.32 SEK 182
1.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uppsala
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$126 SEK 1,248
$217 SEK 2,147
-41.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$4,293 SEK 42.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uppsala
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 SEK 1,037
$87.5 SEK 867
19.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.48 SEK 480
$33.46 SEK 332
44.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.4 SEK 935
$87.0 SEK 862
8.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$200 SEK 1,982
$131 SEK 1,298
52.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uppsala
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$892 SEK 8,836
$1,026 SEK 10.2K
-13.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$707 SEK 7,009
$903 SEK 8,951
-21.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,750 SEK 17.3K
$1,791 SEK 17.7K
-2.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,138 SEK 11.3K
$1,409 SEK 14.0K
-19.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,186 SEK 51.4K
$6,190 SEK 61.3K
-16.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,595 SEK 25.7K
$3,427 SEK 34.0K
-24.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uppsala
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,008 SEK 29.8K
$3,492 SEK 34.6K
-13.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.8
3.06
24.18%

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

Last update for Uppsala: October 10, 2026

Last update for Gothenburg: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Uppsala
$707
Gothenburg
$903 27.7% $196
Groceries & Markets
Uppsala
$391
Gothenburg
$355 9.3% $36
Eating Out
Uppsala
$290
Gothenburg
$273 5.9% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Uppsala
$201
Gothenburg
$153 24.3% $49
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uppsala
$172
Gothenburg
$155 10% $17
Getting Around
Uppsala
$139
Gothenburg
$115 16.9% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Uppsala
$76
Gothenburg
$72 5.5% $4.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $892 in Uppsala and $1,026 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gothenburg pays 16% 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: $81.0 in Uppsala vs $84.0 in Gothenburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $391 vs $355, with Gothenburg cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Uppsala
🇸🇪 Gothenburg
🕒 Local time
10:01 10:01 AM
10:01 10:01 AM
Same time as Uppsala
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
166,698
607,882
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

On the map
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  • Uppsala Gothenburg 400 km
From you
  • Uppsala
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Uppsala vs Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Uppsala and in Gothenburg?
Uppsala and Gothenburg differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,978 vs $2,026 including rent). Uppsala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Are salaries higher in Uppsala or in Gothenburg?
On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Gothenburg. 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 Uppsala compared to Gothenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $892 in Uppsala versus $1,026 in Gothenburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Uppsala and in Gothenburg?
Childcare runs $126 in Uppsala versus $217 in Gothenburg. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Uppsala or in Gothenburg?
Shoppers in Gothenburg pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Uppsala or in Gothenburg?
At $1,978 in Uppsala versus $2,026 in Gothenburg, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Uppsala but tight or insufficient in Gothenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Uppsala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Uppsala or Gothenburg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Uppsala delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,978 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Uppsala hard to pass up.
How safe is Uppsala compared to Gothenburg?
Safety-wise, Uppsala 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 Uppsala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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