Cost of Living Comparison Between Varnamo and Gothenburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Varnamo and Gothenburg

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,788 in Varnamo versus $2,066 in Gothenburg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,849 in Varnamo versus $3,137 in Gothenburg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,910 in Varnamo versus $4,208 in Gothenburg.

Living in Varnamo costs roughly 13% less than in Gothenburg, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Varnamo 31% above, Gothenburg 51% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Varnamo
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.63 SEK 134
$13.45 SEK 133
1.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.6 SEK 932
$91.4 SEK 901
3.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.37 SEK 122
$13.14 SEK 130
-5.86%
Cappuccino
$4.93 SEK 48.62
$4.97 SEK 48.93
-0.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 SEK 27.22
$3.02 SEK 29.77
-8.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 SEK 21.94
$2.23 SEK 21.93
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.28 SEK 81.6
$6.88 SEK 67.8
20.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.34 SEK 72.4
$7.55 SEK 74.4
-2.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Varnamo
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 SEK 16.84
$1.73 SEK 17.07
-1.16%
White Bread (500g)
$2.73 SEK 26.91
$2.72 SEK 26.78
0.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.92 SEK 38.63
$3.18 SEK 31.32
23.27%
Eggs
$4.70 SEK 46.33
$3.94 SEK 38.82
19.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.11 SEK 129
$11.92 SEK 117
9.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.30 SEK 121
$11.66 SEK 115
5.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.53 SEK 173
$16.83 SEK 166
4.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.13 SEK 30.89
$3.20 SEK 31.51
-2.19%
Banana (1kg)
$3.00 SEK 29.57
$2.57 SEK 25.34
16.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.89 SEK 28.44
$3.08 SEK 30.40
-6.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.68 SEK 46.08
$4.24 SEK 41.82
10.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 SEK 17.66
$1.85 SEK 18.24
-3.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 SEK 14.70
$1.65 SEK 16.29
-9.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.74 SEK 27.00
$1.98 SEK 19.51
38.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 SEK 15.81
$1.73 SEK 17.01
-7.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.02 SEK 79.0
$8.36 SEK 82.4
-4.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.67 SEK 115
$14.27 SEK 141
-18.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 SEK 19.96
$2.07 SEK 20.38
-1.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 SEK 27.45
$2.23 SEK 21.96
25.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Varnamo
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.41 SEK 33.57
$3.74 SEK 36.89
-8.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.1 SEK 789
$88.0 SEK 867
-8.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.14 SEK 50.6
$6.22 SEK 61.3
-17.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.16 SEK 11.45
$1.71 SEK 16.82
-32.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.03 SEK 424
$60.3 SEK 594
-28.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 SEK 17.72
$1.83 SEK 17.99
-1.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K SEK 336.2K
$33.4K SEK 329.0K
2.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K SEK 338.5K
$34.8K SEK 342.7K
-1.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Varnamo
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 SEK 803
$107 SEK 1,057
-24.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.13 SEK 317
$19.22 SEK 189
67.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.81 SEK 422
$35.96 SEK 354
19.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Varnamo
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.50 SEK 389
$37.06 SEK 365
6.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.42 SEK 260
$25.22 SEK 249
4.76%
Cinema Ticket
$15.50 SEK 153
$19.54 SEK 193
-20.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Varnamo
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$165 SEK 1,628
$229 SEK 2,253
-27.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,125 SEK 50.5K
$4,474 SEK 44.1K
14.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Varnamo
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.1 SEK 819
$89.2 SEK 879
-6.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.5 SEK 596
$33.16 SEK 327
82.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 SEK 1,043
$93.3 SEK 919
13.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 SEK 1,271
$133 SEK 1,308
-2.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Varnamo
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$844 SEK 8,319
$1,045 SEK 10.3K
-19.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$621 SEK 6,118
$952 SEK 9,380
-34.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,410 SEK 13.9K
$1,862 SEK 18.3K
-24.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,038 SEK 10.2K
$1,409 SEK 13.9K
-26.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,235 SEK 41.7K
$6,398 SEK 63.1K
-33.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,859 SEK 28.2K
$3,571 SEK 35.2K
-19.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Varnamo
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,104 SEK 20.7K
$3,625 SEK 35.7K
-41.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.03
3.06
-0.98%

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

Last update for Varnamo: September 14, 2026

Last update for Gothenburg: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $844 in Varnamo and $1,045 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gothenburg pays 72% 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: $95.0 in Varnamo vs $91.0 in Gothenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $363 per month, with Gothenburg cheaper across the board.

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
Varnamo vs Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Varnamo or Gothenburg?
Varnamo wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Gothenburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Varnamo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Varnamo or in Gothenburg?
On paper, salaries run 72% 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 Varnamo compared to Gothenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $844 in Varnamo versus $1,045 in Gothenburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Varnamo and in Gothenburg?
Childcare runs $165 in Varnamo versus $229 in Gothenburg. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Varnamo or in Gothenburg?
Shoppers in Gothenburg pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Varnamo or in Gothenburg?
At $1,788 in Varnamo versus $2,066 in Gothenburg, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Varnamo but tight or insufficient in Gothenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Varnamo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Varnamo or Gothenburg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Varnamo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,788 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Varnamo hard to pass up.
How safe is Varnamo compared to Gothenburg?
Safety-wise, Varnamo 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 Varnamo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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