Gothenburg Survival Guide: My Messy Monthly Budget Breakdown
so here's the deal with living in gothenburg. i moved here thinking it'd be chill and affordable, but boy was i wrong. let me break down my actual monthly expenses because apparently "budgeting" is a thing adults do.
rent: 8,500 sek for a 25m² studio in vasastan. yeah, i know. my friend who's a freelance photographer pays 10k for basically a closet downtown. we joke that gothenburg rents are "affordable" compared to stockholm, but that's like saying a paper cut is better than a shark bite.
utilities: 1,200 sek (electricity, heating, water, internet that works maybe 60% of the time)
food: 3,500 sek. this includes my coffee addiction. speaking of which, gothenburg has some serious coffee game. check out da matteo if you want to spend 45 sek on a latte that'll make you question all your life choices.
transport: 930 sek for the monthly göteborgs spårvägar pass. or you could bike like my neighbor, the yoga instructor who claims she "doesn't feel the rain." sure jan.
fun money: 2,000 sek. this covers my thrifting habit (gothenburg has amazing vintage shops), occasional fika with friends, and my failed attempts at being a digital nomad at stora hotellet's lobby.
random expenses: 1,000 sek. because something always breaks or i impulse-buy plant babies at the market.
total: approximately 18,130 sek/month ($1,650 USD)
the "gothenburg is expensive" reality check
i overheard a local at café häkan saying gothenburg was voted one of the safest cities in europe. great, but safety doesn't pay my bills. the job market here is decent if you're in tech or creative fields, but if you're a touring session drummer like my cousin, you're either gigging in stockholm or eating ramen.
weather report from someone who checked outside today
it's that typical gothenburg gray - like the sky forgot to change out of its pajamas. but hey, at least it's not raining sideways today! liseberg amusement park is just 10 minutes away if you need a serotonin boost, and the archipelago is a short tram ride if you're pretending to be in a swedish drama.
overheard at the bus stop
"yeah, gothenburg's great if you like paying stockholm prices for everything but with less excitement" - some guy in a fjällräven backpack
"moved here for the 'affordable' living. my rent's higher than my mom's in malmö and she has a balcony" - stressed-out student at chalmers
pro-tips from someone who's made all the mistakes
- don't rent in majorna unless you enjoy hipsters judging your non-organic toothpaste
- the friday market at saluhallen will ruin your food budget and your dignity
- second-hand apps like blocket are your best friend unless you enjoy paying full price for ikea furniture
- join the "gothenburg expats" facebook group for rental leads before you end up in a 12m² "cozy" apartment
the real talk
look, gothenburg isn't cheap, but it's got character. the canals, the fika culture, the fact that you can stumble into a random neighborhood and find a 17th-century building next to a vegan donut shop. it's messy, it's expensive, but it's got this weird charm that makes you stay even when your bank account cries.
if you're planning to move here, triple whatever budget you think you need. then add 10% for spontaneous semla purchases. welcome to the gothia squad.
Check out more coffee spots in Gothenburg - because you'll need it
Gothenburg housing market discussion - for when you're crying about rent prices
Local Gothenburg events calendar - to spend more money on fun things
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