Cost of Living Comparison Between Whangarei and Gothenburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Whangarei and Gothenburg

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Whangarei 27% above, Gothenburg 54% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.97 NZ$35.72
$13.74 SEK 129
52.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.9 NZ$145
$93.9 SEK 880
-9.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.34 NZ$17.62
$10.34 SEK 97.0
-
Cappuccino
$3.82 NZ$6.51
$4.73 SEK 44.40
-19.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 NZ$3.69
$2.97 SEK 27.84
-26.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 NZ$2.99
$2.53 SEK 23.76
-30.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.40 NZ$10.90
$7.26 SEK 68.1
-11.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.99 NZ$13.61
$7.72 SEK 72.4
3.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 NZ$3.32
$1.68 SEK 15.75
16.07%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 NZ$3.69
$2.85 SEK 26.75
-24.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 NZ$3.46
$3.32 SEK 31.11
-38.86%
Eggs
$6.73 NZ$11.46
$4.65 SEK 43.63
44.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.73 NZ$16.57
$11.80 SEK 111
-17.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.71 NZ$18.24
$12.61 SEK 118
-15.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.70 NZ$28.45
$19.02 SEK 178
-12.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 NZ$5.09
$3.10 SEK 29.07
-3.55%
Banana (1kg)
$2.33 NZ$3.97
$2.74 SEK 25.67
-14.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.98 NZ$5.08
$2.91 SEK 27.25
2.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.70 NZ$8.01
$4.18 SEK 39.16
12.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 NZ$4.39
$1.66 SEK 15.58
55.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 NZ$3.23
$1.85 SEK 17.34
2.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 NZ$4.19
$2.27 SEK 21.33
8.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 NZ$1.90
$1.55 SEK 14.53
-27.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.68 NZ$40.33
$7.82 SEK 73.3
202.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.19 NZ$17.36
$15.32 SEK 144
-33.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 NZ$4.01
$2.26 SEK 21.19
3.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 NZ$4.90
$2.61 SEK 24.45
10.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.78 NZ$3.03
$3.80 SEK 35.63
-53.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$138 NZ$235
$88.6 SEK 831
55.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.97 NZ$6.76
$10.11 SEK 94.8
-60.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 NZ$2.79
$1.66 SEK 15.56
-1.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.27 NZ$24.31
$61.7 SEK 579
-76.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.64 NZ$2.80
$1.89 SEK 17.73
-13.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.9K NZ$76.5K
$32.0K SEK 300.4K
40.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K NZ$38.1K
$34.5K SEK 323.3K
-35.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 NZ$224
$138 SEK 1,299
-4.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.38 NZ$67.1
$24.95 SEK 234
57.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.9 NZ$90.1
$38.25 SEK 359
38.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 NZ$64.6
$41.78 SEK 392
-9.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.07 NZ$5.24
$25.26 SEK 237
-87.85%
Cinema Ticket
$10.65 NZ$18.15
$17.98 SEK 169
-40.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$783 NZ$1,333
$175 SEK 1,646
345.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K NZ$20.6K
$4,215 SEK 39.5K
187.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.1 NZ$118
$87.6 SEK 822
-21.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.32 NZ$58.5
$40.28 SEK 378
-14.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.7 NZ$139
$96.9 SEK 909
-15.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 NZ$173
$156 SEK 1,466
-34.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$544 NZ$927
$1,125 SEK 10.6K
-51.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 NZ$773
$873 SEK 8,190
-48.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 NZ$1,724
$1,917 SEK 18.0K
-47.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$776 NZ$1,322
$1,434 SEK 13.4K
-45.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,472 NZ$7,618
$6,696 SEK 62.8K
-33.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,393 NZ$5,780
$3,764 SEK 35.3K
-9.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Whangarei
Gothenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,515 NZ$4,285
$3,953 SEK 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.

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