Cost of living in Gothenburg

Is Gothenburg expensive?

Gothenburg is Sweden's second city and clearly cheaper than Stockholm — rents run about 15–25% lower and property prices are considerably lower. Everyday costs like food and bills, though, are the same as elsewhere in the country. The big challenge here is instead the housing queue, which is long.

• Single person: ~15,000–21,000 kr/month including rent
• Family of four: ~32,000–44,000 kr/month including rent
• Cheaper than Stockholm, dearer than Malmö
• The main obstacle: the long queue for a first-hand contract

Costs at a glance

Rent and housing

First-hand contracts are mostly allocated through Boplats Göteborg, the shared housing queue. The wait averages around six years, and 8–10 years for central flats, though each year some flats still go to people with a short queue time. The second-hand market is dearer but quicker. Buying is far cheaper than in Stockholm.

• First-hand: studio ~6,500–7,500 kr, one-bed ~9,500–11,500 kr, two-bed ~13,000–15,600 kr
• Second-hand: studios/one-beds ~8,500–12,000 kr, two-beds ~13,900–17,900 kr
• The queue (Boplats): ~6 years on average, 8–10 years centrally
• Buying a co-op flat: ~51,000 kr/m² on average, 70,000–90,000 kr/m² centrally, under 30,000 kr/m² on Hisingen and the outer areas

Electricity, insurance and internet

Heating and water are usually included in the rent. Gothenburg is in electricity zone SE3, cheaper than southern Sweden. On top of the rent you pay electricity, home insurance, broadband and mobile.

• Household electricity: ~500–1,000 kr/month
• Home insurance: ~150–250 kr/month
• Broadband: ~300–450 kr/month
• Mobile plan: ~150–260 kr/month

Food and eating out

Food prices are the same across the country; Lidl and Willys are cheapest, ICA and Coop dearest. According to Konsumentverket, food costs a single person around 3,700 kr a month and a family of four around 11,600 kr if you cook at home.

• Grocery budget: single ~3,700 kr/month, family ~11,600 kr/month
• Set weekday lunch: ~110–145 kr
• Three-course dinner for two: ~750–900 kr
• Fika (coffee + bun): ~40–60 kr, a beer at a bar ~65–75 kr

Getting around

Västtrafik runs the trams, buses and local trains. Gothenburg is compact and transit is dense, so many manage without a car. People registered in Gothenburg get a discounted monthly pass in the app, and in 2026 the price is additionally halved temporarily.

• Monthly pass zone A: 445 kr (~305 kr for registered residents in the app; halved during 2026)
• Single ticket: 38 kr
• Petrol: ~17–18 kr/litre
• A compact city — many choose to live car-free

Healthcare and preschool

As across the country, healthcare and preschool are capped. Children under 20 have free care, and prescription medicine becomes free after an annual ceiling. Preschool is charged by income under a maximum-fee system.

• Care visit: a few hundred kronor, free after the ceiling of ~1,150–1,400 kr per 12 months
• Prescription medicine: its own ceiling, up to 3,800 kr per 12 months
• Under 20: free care and free medicines
• Preschool: at most ~1,500–1,850 kr/month for the first child, less on a low income

An example monthly budget

A rough month in Gothenburg. Rent is the big variable.

• Single person: rent 7,000–10,000 + food 3,700 + transport 305–445 + bills 1,000 + other 2,000 ≈ 15,000–21,000 kr
• Family of four: rent 13,000–16,000 + food 11,600 + transport 900 + preschool 2,500 + bills 2,000 + other 4,000 ≈ 32,000–44,000 kr

Neighbourhoods and good to know

The most affordable areas with established immigrant communities and lower rents are above all Angered (Hjällbo, Hammarkullen, Lövgärdet, Gårdsten), Bergsjön, parts of Hisingen (Biskopsgården, Hisings Backa) and Tynnered/Frölunda. There you find smaller flats from around 6,000–8,500 kr and purchase prices from 18,000–24,000 kr/m², with good tram and bus links into the centre.

Join the Boplats queue straight away — queue time is decisive. SVI Fokus is not an authority; always check current rents, fees and rules against the sources below and the responsible authority.

Compare with Stockholm (dearer) and Malmö (cheaper), or go back to the overview of the cost of living in Sweden.