Cost of living in Gothenburg — is your salary enough?
Gothenburg private rents average 7,500 kr/month, lower than Stockholm with a similar income profile. Gothenburg offers a better cost ratio than Stockholm for comparable professional roles, often allowing above-benchmark savings.
Rent in Gothenburg
Other monthly costs
How different incomes stack up
At typical Gothenburg costs (7,500 kr rent)
See your personal verdict for Gothenburg
Cost figures are estimates based on reported median rents and typical spending patterns. Savings benchmarks from SCB Household Finances Survey 2022. Figures in SEK.
Frequently asked questions — Living in Gothenburg
How much does it cost to live in Gothenburg?+
Core monthly costs in Gothenburg run about 16,500 kr — roughly 7,500 kr for rent and 9,000 kr for other living expenses (food, transport, utilities, basics). Gothenburg private rents average 7,500 kr/month, lower than Stockholm with a similar income profile.
What is the median rent in Gothenburg?+
The median rent in Gothenburg is around 7,500 kr per month. Gothenburg is classified as a moderate cost cost-of-living city in Sweden.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Gothenburg?+
Using the 70%-rule (core costs ≤ 70% of gross), you need roughly 282,857 kr per year before tax to live comfortably in Gothenburg. That leaves room to hit the 14% savings benchmark for Sweden.
Is Gothenburg expensive compared to the rest of Sweden?+
Gothenburg sits in the moderate cost tier within Sweden. Gothenburg offers a better cost ratio than Stockholm for comparable professional roles, often allowing above-benchmark savings.
How much of your income should rent take in Gothenburg?+
The standard rule is no more than 30% of gross income on rent. At 7,500 kr/month in Gothenburg, that means a gross income of at least 300,000 kr per year to stay under the 30% threshold.
Can you still save money living in Gothenburg?+
Yes — the Sweden benchmark for mid-income earners is 14% of gross income. In a moderate cost city like Gothenburg, hitting that rate is comfortably achievable for most mid-income households.