🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,698 in Whangarei versus $2,058 in Gothenburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,673 in Whangarei versus $3,193 in Gothenburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,648 in Whangarei versus $4,328 in Gothenburg.
🙂Living in Whangarei costs roughly 18% less than in Gothenburg, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Whangarei27% above, Gothenburg54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.97NZ$35.72
$13.74SEK 129
52.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.9NZ$145
$93.9SEK 880
-9.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.34NZ$17.62
$10.34SEK 97.0
-
Cappuccino
$3.82NZ$6.51
$4.73SEK 44.40
-19.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17NZ$3.69
$2.97SEK 27.84
-26.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75NZ$2.99
$2.53SEK 23.76
-30.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.40NZ$10.90
$7.26SEK 68.1
-11.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.99NZ$13.61
$7.72SEK 72.4
3.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95NZ$3.32
$1.68SEK 15.75
16.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16NZ$3.69
$2.85SEK 26.75
-24.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.03NZ$3.46
$3.32SEK 31.11
-38.86%
Eggs
$6.73NZ$11.46
$4.65SEK 43.63
44.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.73NZ$16.57
$11.80SEK 111
-17.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.71NZ$18.24
$12.61SEK 118
-15.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.70NZ$28.45
$19.02SEK 178
-12.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.99NZ$5.09
$3.10SEK 29.07
-3.55%
Banana(1kg)
$2.33NZ$3.97
$2.74SEK 25.67
-14.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.98NZ$5.08
$2.91SEK 27.25
2.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.70NZ$8.01
$4.18SEK 39.16
12.44%
Potato(1kg)
$2.58NZ$4.39
$1.66SEK 15.58
55.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90NZ$3.23
$1.85SEK 17.34
2.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.46NZ$4.19
$2.27SEK 21.33
8.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12NZ$1.90
$1.55SEK 14.53
-27.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.68NZ$40.33
$7.82SEK 73.3
202.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.19NZ$17.36
$15.32SEK 144
-33.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35NZ$4.01
$2.26SEK 21.19
3.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88NZ$4.90
$2.61SEK 24.45
10.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.78NZ$3.03
$3.80SEK 35.63
-53.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$138NZ$235
$88.6SEK 831
55.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.97NZ$6.76
$10.11SEK 94.8
-60.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64NZ$2.79
$1.66SEK 15.56
-1.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.27NZ$24.31
$61.7SEK 579
-76.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64NZ$2.80
$1.89SEK 17.73
-13.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.9KNZ$76.5K
$32.0KSEK 300.4K
40.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3KNZ$38.1K
$34.5KSEK 323.3K
-35.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132NZ$224
$138SEK 1,299
-4.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.38NZ$67.1
$24.95SEK 234
57.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.9NZ$90.1
$38.25SEK 359
38.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.94NZ$64.6
$41.78SEK 392
-9.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.07NZ$5.24
$25.26SEK 237
-87.85%
Cinema Ticket
$10.65NZ$18.15
$17.98SEK 169
-40.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$783NZ$1,333
$175SEK 1,646
345.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1KNZ$20.6K
$4,215SEK 39.5K
187.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.1NZ$118
$87.6SEK 822
-21.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.32NZ$58.5
$40.28SEK 378
-14.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.7NZ$139
$96.9SEK 909
-15.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102NZ$173
$156SEK 1,466
-34.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$544NZ$927
$1,125SEK 10.6K
-51.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454NZ$773
$873SEK 8,190
-48.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012NZ$1,724
$1,917SEK 18.0K
-47.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$776NZ$1,322
$1,434SEK 13.4K
-45.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,472NZ$7,618
$6,696SEK 62.8K
-33.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,393NZ$5,780
$3,764SEK 35.3K
-9.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,515NZ$4,285
$3,953SEK 37.1K
-36.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.7
4.33
54.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Whangarei: June 1, 2026
Last update for Gothenburg: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $544 in Whangarei and $1,125 in Gothenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gothenburg pays 57% 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: $85.0 in Whangarei vs $94.0 in Gothenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $381 per month, with Whangarei 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
Whangarei vs Gothenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Whangarei or Gothenburg?
Whangarei wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Gothenburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Whangarei the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Whangarei or Gothenburg?
On paper, Gothenburg earns 57% 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 Whangarei vs Gothenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $544 in Whangarei 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 Whangarei and Gothenburg?
Childcare runs $783 in Whangarei 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 Whangarei or Gothenburg?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Gothenburg. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Whangarei or Gothenburg?
At $1,698 in Whangarei versus $2,058 in Gothenburg, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Whangarei but tight or insufficient in Gothenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Whangarei the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Whangarei or Gothenburg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Whangarei delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,698 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Whangarei hard to pass up.
How safe is Whangarei compared to Gothenburg?
Safety-wise, Whangarei 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 Whangarei gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Gothenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.