Popular cities
Gothenburg Prices & Cost of Living 2026
Sweden · Big city · coast — Gothenburg is about 29% cheaper than New York. Not just exchange rates: what a fair price is, where it turns into a rip-off, and what that means in your money.
Gothenburg prices at a glance
Just got quoted a price? Check it
Pick the item and type the price you were quoted or paid — instant verdict. If you actually paid it, you can share it right here.
Open in the app: see it in your money & log it ›Free · no sign-up · Rip-off guide
Gothenburg travel difficulty
Taxi fares are unregulated — check the comparison-price sticker
Nearly everyone speaks fluent English
Extensive tram network; Flygbussarna coach to the airport
Many places are card-only; you'll barely need cash
Central areas are safe; gang crime reported in some suburbs
Good to knowNo cash on trams — buy tickets in the Västtrafik To Go app before boarding
Handy apps: Uber · Bolt
Visas depend on your passport, so they are not scored. Felt different on the ground? Tell other travelers below. Travel difficulty in Europe › Difficulty ranking for 502 cities ›
In your money
Gothenburg is about 29% cheaper than New York
Based on 8 things travelers buy most, compared with New York. Each pair of bars is the same purchase in both cities, converted to your currency. Set your own city and currency in “My basis” above.
Gothenburg in numbers
- 🍜7.4 local meals
- ☕21 coffees
- 🍺13 beers
- 🚕5.7 5-km taxi rides
- 💆1.4 h of massage
- 🏨0.8 hotel nights
- Local meal45 min · New York 52 min
- Coffee16 min · New York 15 min
- Beer26 min · New York 23 min
- Taxi58 min · New York 59 min
- SIM card#208 cheapest
- Restaurant dinner#203 priciest
- Entry ticket#183 priciest
- Bottled water#35 priciest
- Transit#40 priciest
Gothenburg price guide & rip-off thresholds
Gothenburg travel budget
Per person per day, estimated. Flights and shopping not included.
See 4-day, 1-week and 1-month budget tables › · Plan a multi-city trip budget ›
How to spend money in Gothenburg
Cards and mobile pay are nearly universal; many places refuse cash.
Service is included; rounding up is plenty.
Prices include tax and service; alcohol is especially expensive.
Buy transit tickets by app or contactless; cycling is great.
No haggling, except at flea markets.
Tap water is safe to drink.
Rare. Alcohol and eating out are what blow the budget.
Live prices reported in Gothenburg
Loading…
FAQ
Is Gothenburg cheaper than New York?
Across 8 things travelers buy most (meals, coffee, beer, taxis, hotels…), Gothenburg is about 29% cheaper than New York. A local meal is about kr 140 (≈ $13.5) and a coffee about kr 48 (≈ $4.62).
How hard is Gothenburg to travel?
Averaging rip-offs, language, getting around, payments and safety, Gothenburg scores 1.6/5 — 'easy'. Nothing stands out as hard. Tip: No cash on trams — buy tickets in the Västtrafik To Go app before boarding
Is Gothenburg good for first-time travelers?
Yes — it is one of the easier places to travel (1.6/5). No cash on trams — buy tickets in the Västtrafik To Go app before boarding
What is a realistic daily budget for Gothenburg?
Mid-range (3-star hotel, local meals plus a dinner out, two taxi rides) is about $251 a day. Guesthouses and street food bring it to about $93.7; 4-star and restaurants push it to about $512.
How much does it cost to live in Gothenburg for a month?
A short-term studio (about $1,961) plus food, transport and a SIM (about $1,859) comes to roughly $3,820 a month. A local long-term lease (studio about kr 9,000) brings it down a lot.
How much should a taxi cost in Gothenburg?
For 5 km in town, expect kr 144 – kr 288; anything above kr 346 is suspicious. Buy transit tickets by app or contactless; cycling is great.
Do you tip in Gothenburg?
Service is included; rounding up is plenty. Prices include tax and service; alcohol is especially expensive.
Can you use cards in Gothenburg?
Cards and mobile pay are nearly universal; many places refuse cash.
Where do these numbers come from?
Base prices start from public cost-of-living data; once 3+ traveler reports come in, the app blends in the median of what people actually paid.
Fair range & rip-off line — each item gets its own spread (tight for transit, wide for street food). Above 1.2× the top of the fair range is flagged as a likely rip-off.
Budgets add up item prices for the lifestyle described above. Peak season and prime tourist spots run higher.
Exchange rate as of October 2026: 1 USD = kr 10. Last updated 2026-10-05.