Cost of Living in Gothenburg - Updated Prices & Insights

Monthly Cost of Living

Living costs for one person come to about $2,051 monthly including rent, or $1,094 excluding housing.

Estimated monthly costs for a couple: $3,215 with rent, or $1,957 without housing.

Monthly costs for a family of three come to about $4,379 including rent, or $2,819 for daily expenses alone.

Gothenburg sits 52–55% above the global median across household types. Within Europe, costs are slightly above average (15%) – still relatively affordable for the region.

Currency
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🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.78 SEK 126
$12.19 SEK 111
$21.19 SEK 193
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.4 SEK 844
$52.8 SEK 482
$127 SEK 1,157
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.69 SEK 97.6
$10.15 SEK 92.7
$13.79 SEK 126
Cappuccino
$4.78 SEK 43.66
$3.10 SEK 28.33
$6.22 SEK 56.8
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 SEK 28.20
$2.58 SEK 23.55
$4.30 SEK 39.28
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 SEK 23.18
$2.07 SEK 18.89
$3.31 SEK 30.26
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.29 SEK 66.6
$6.15 SEK 56.1
$9.28 SEK 84.7
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.83 SEK 71.5
$6.27 SEK 57.2
$9.40 SEK 85.8
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 SEK 15.95
$1.32 SEK 12.06
$2.14 SEK 19.57
White Bread (500g)
$2.95 SEK 26.97
$1.72 SEK 15.69
$4.24 SEK 38.72
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.27 SEK 29.83
$2.10 SEK 19.19
$5.04 SEK 46.02
Eggs
$4.42 SEK 40.37
$2.95 SEK 26.97
$7.26 SEK 66.3
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.50 SEK 105
$7.82 SEK 71.4
$17.52 SEK 160
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.54 SEK 114
$8.55 SEK 78.1
$19.25 SEK 176
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.44 SEK 168
$10.42 SEK 95.2
$31.26 SEK 285
Apples (1kg)
$3.18 SEK 29.03
$1.62 SEK 14.75
$4.31 SEK 39.39
Banana (1kg)
$2.66 SEK 24.33
$1.87 SEK 17.06
$3.11 SEK 28.37
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 SEK 27.30
$1.71 SEK 15.59
$4.26 SEK 38.92
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 SEK 39.62
$2.14 SEK 19.58
$6.43 SEK 58.7
Potato (1kg)
$1.73 SEK 15.81
$1.06 SEK 9.71
$2.35 SEK 21.46
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 SEK 17.23
$1.26 SEK 11.51
$2.93 SEK 26.74
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 SEK 19.96
$1.48 SEK 13.49
$4.09 SEK 37.35
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 SEK 14.22
$0.93 SEK 8.46
$2.60 SEK 23.76
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.12 SEK 74.1
$7.31 SEK 66.7
$10.54 SEK 96.3
Wine (Bottle)
$12.52 SEK 114
$8.34 SEK 76.1
$21.37 SEK 195
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 SEK 20.58
$1.61 SEK 14.71
$3.22 SEK 29.42
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 SEK 22.94
$1.56 SEK 14.21
$3.64 SEK 33.19
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.81 SEK 34.81
$3.71 SEK 33.92
$3.81 SEK 34.81
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.3 SEK 806
$86.7 SEK 792
$89.3 SEK 816
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.44 SEK 95.3
$6.53 SEK 59.6
$12.85 SEK 117
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 SEK 14.50
$1.53 SEK 13.97
$2.87 SEK 26.23
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$63.5 SEK 580
$63.5 SEK 580
$86.1 SEK 786
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 SEK 17.28
$1.67 SEK 15.29
$1.98 SEK 18.09
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K SEK 299.2K
$32.8K SEK 299.2K
$35.6K SEK 325.4K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K SEK 327.3K
$34.9K SEK 319.0K
$37.6K SEK 343.6K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$137 SEK 1,250
$83.7 SEK 764
$356 SEK 3,248
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.60 SEK 234
$12.77 SEK 117
$36.69 SEK 335
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.36 SEK 350
$28.74 SEK 262
$52.3 SEK 477
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.02 SEK 375
$26.05 SEK 238
$52.1 SEK 476
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.40 SEK 232
$21.38 SEK 195
$32.08 SEK 293
Cinema Ticket
$17.50 SEK 160
$15.54 SEK 142
$22.79 SEK 208
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$173 SEK 1,581
$125 SEK 1,143
$209 SEK 1,905
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,218 SEK 38.5K
$3,870 SEK 35.3K
$4,407 SEK 40.2K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.5 SEK 808
$42.10 SEK 384
$116 SEK 1,057
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.93 SEK 365
$21.17 SEK 193
$74.1 SEK 677
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.0 SEK 904
$64.4 SEK 588
$140 SEK 1,275
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 SEK 1,383
$104 SEK 947
$207 SEK 1,893
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,140 SEK 10.4K
$860 SEK 7,854
$1,613 SEK 14.7K
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$873 SEK 7,971
$640 SEK 5,846
$1,281 SEK 11.7K
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,894 SEK 17.3K
$1,270 SEK 11.6K
$2,434 SEK 22.2K
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,435 SEK 13.1K
$1,066 SEK 9,735
$2,026 SEK 18.5K
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,409 SEK 58.5K
$5,867 SEK 53.6K
$7,307 SEK 66.7K
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,962 SEK 36.2K
$2,942 SEK 26.9K
$5,073 SEK 46.3K
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,940 SEK 36.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.33
3
5

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

Last update: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Expect to pay about $1,140 for a central one-bedroom, or $873 outside the center. At around 29% of the average salary ($3,940), rent noticeably above the typical 30% rent-to-income guideline.

Average take-home pay sits at $3,940, while typical expenses reach $2,051. This leaves solid room for saving and lifestyle spending.

Expect to spend about $374 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant costs roughly $92 for two – above the European average of $75.

Public transport is priced at around $88 per month – above the European average of $48.

Cost Highlights

Preschool or kindergarten, full day, private, 1 child is cheaper than 93% of cities in Europe

Gothenburg is more expensive than 67% of cities worldwide and 71% within Europe.

Gothenburg Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
ms

Fixed Broadband

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
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The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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Cost of Living in Gothenburg - Frequently Asked Questions
How does Gothenburg compare in affordability, and who typically finds value here?
In overall terms, Cost of Living in Gothenburg, Sweden sits in the mid-range for Nordic cities, offering good value for those who want a high quality of life without the sky-high price tag found elsewhere. You’ll find a sensible balance between housing in central neighborhoods and more affordable pockets a short transit ride away, with dining and activities that suit a range of budgets. Seasonal tourism can push prices up briefly, but long-term living remains reasonable for families, remote workers, and students who choose wisely. The vibe is practical: efficient public transit, bike-friendly streets, and a strong local market scene. Tip: choose neighborhoods that balance commute, green space, and local amenities to maximize value.
What does daily life look like in Gothenburg, including housing search, food options, transport, and errands?
You approach housing by weighing central proximity against garden or harbor access. In Gothenburg, neighborhoods like Haga or Vasastan offer walkable centers, while Majorna or Örgryte bring lower rents and bigger outdoor spaces. Food options range from bustling markets to seasonal produce at co-ops, with restaurants bridging Nordic flavors and international dishes. Transport runs on reliable trams and bicycle routes; many carry season passes for savings. For errands, you’ll find well-stocked supermarkets and efficient service hubs near central districts. Finding a few coworking spaces or cafes with good wifi can smooth remote work days. Gothenburg, Sweden living cost varies with neighborhood and season, so plan around work and recreation. Tip: map a couple of test days to estimate daily pacing.
What quality of life and budgeting strategies work best in Gothenburg for travelers and residents, considering seasonality and neighborhood fit?
You’ll frame a practical budget by dividing essentials, flexible needs, and discretionary spend. In Gothenburg, you feel a tangible rhythm across seasons: you’ll rely more on warmth and utilities in winter, and on outdoor activities in milder months. Build a framework around housing costs by neighborhood type, public transit use, and shared spaces. Save by cooking at home, choosing markets, and taking advantage of free events near the coast or in parks. Neighborhood fit matters: if you want nightlife, pick central districts; if you crave quiet, look toward the outer harbors. Tip: pace your outings with off-peak transit and seasonal markets for better value.
Is Gothenburg worth the cost of living?
At around $2,051 monthly all-in, Gothenburg offers decent value. It's not the cheapest and not the priciest – a good fit for people who want city convenience without capital-level costs.
Is Gothenburg expensive to live in?
Everyday life in Gothenburg is moderately priced at about $2,051 per month, rent included. Groceries and transport stay reasonable, though dining out and entertainment can feel a bit pricier than in budget destinations.
Can you save money on an average salary in Gothenburg?
At $3,940 take-home, most residents in Gothenburg can cover the $2,051 monthly cost of living. Those earning $3,076 or more have room to save; below-average earners will find things noticeably tighter.
What are typical rents in Gothenburg?
Where you live in Gothenburg makes all the difference. Central one-bedrooms cost about $1,140; commute-friendly outer districts come in around $873. Overall, the market runs from $873 to $1,140 depending on size, location, and apartment condition.
How expensive is a gym membership in Gothenburg?
A regular gym membership in Gothenburg costs around $41.02 monthly. It's a reasonable expense that fits into most budgets, and you generally get decent facilities for the price.
What is a typical grocery budget in Gothenburg?
Expect to spend around $374 per month on groceries in Gothenburg. Neither cheap nor expensive by global standards – everyday items are fairly priced, though imported or specialty products cost more.
Can a person live on $1,500 monthly in Gothenburg?
Living on $1,500 in Gothenburg means careful planning, since monthly costs average $2,051. It works with a cheap apartment and disciplined spending, but expect trade-offs on where you live, how often you eat out, and entertainment.
Can you retire comfortably in Gothenburg?
Retirees thrive in Gothenburg – living costs average around $2,051 monthly, healthcare is affordable and accessible, and the overall vibe supports a fulfilling, low-stress retirement.

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