Gothenburg's Real Cost of Living: A Messy Monthly Breakdown
so here's the thing about living in gothenburg - it's not as expensive as stockholm but it's definitely not cheap either. i'm writing this as a freelance photographer who's been bouncing around scandinavia for the past year, and gothenburg has been my base for the last six months.
let me break down what i actually spend each month, no bullshit:
*rent: 8,500 sek for a 35m² studio in vasastan. yeah, it's a lot, but i got lucky finding this place through a local facebook group. most people i know are paying 9,000-11,000 for similar spaces in "trendy" areas like linné or haga.
utilities: about 800 sek total (electricity, heating, internet). the heating bill spikes in winter - my january bill was closer to 1,200 sek.
food: i budget 3,000 sek monthly but honestly it's usually more like 3,500. groceries at willys or emmaljunga are reasonable, but i have a coffee problem. speaking of which...
coffee: minimum 600 sek. i know, i know. but have you tried the espresso at da matteo? or the filter coffee at värmdö? it's impossible to resist.
transportation: 660 sek for the monthly mtl card. totally worth it - gothenburg's public transport is actually reliable and covers everything. i rarely use it though since i bike everywhere when it's not raining (so, like, 40% of the time).
health insurance: 300 sek through my freelancer union. sweden's healthcare system is no joke - i had a wisdom tooth removed and paid exactly 80 sek for the entire thing.
entertainment: maybe 1,500 sek? this includes the occasional concert at oceanen, fårö jazz festival tickets, and way too many craft beers at the rover.
gear/clothes: 2,000 sek. photography equipment is my weakness. last month i bought a vintage lens from a guy in frändered. worth every krona.
total monthly budget*: around 17,000-18,000 sek ($1,600-1,700 usd)
the gothenburg reality check
here's what nobody tells you: gothenburg's job market is actually pretty decent for creatives. there's a growing tech scene, lots of design agencies, and the film industry is active. i've picked up photography gigs through the local subreddit r/goteborg - yeah, that's a thing and it's surprisingly useful.
rent prices have jumped about 15% in the last two years though. my friend who's a yoga instructor says she spends 40% of her income on rent alone, and she shares a 60m² apartment with another person in hisingen.
"gothenburg is what stockholm thinks it is - actually cool without the attitude," overheard at a warehouse party in ringö.
weather and location perks
right now it's that perfect gothenburg grey - you know, when the light is so soft it makes everything look like it's been shot on portra 400 film. the rain is more of a mist, which is somehow worse because you don't realize you're soaked until you're soaked.
and the location is stupid good. copenhagen is 3 hours away by train. oslo is 4. stockholm is 3.5. you're basically in the middle of scandinavia's best stuff. plus, the west coast archipelago is basically in your backyard.
money-saving hacks from a local barista
- shop at immigrant markets for produce - way cheaper than ICA
- the "fredagsmys" culture means tons of free events on friday evenings
- buy a bike - seriously, you'll save so much on transport
- check out the facebook group "Gothenburg Second Hand Buy & Sell" before buying anything new
- many museums have free entry one day per month
is gothenburg worth it?
look, if you're coming from somewhere with actual affordable rent, yeah, it'll feel expensive. but compared to other european cities of similar size, gothenburg offers a lot: safety, great public services, an actual cultural scene, and that weird swedish efficiency that somehow still leaves room for fika breaks.
i've lived in berlin, copenhagen, and now gothenburg. this city hits that sweet spot between "i can afford to live here" and "there's actually stuff to do." the trick is finding your people and your neighborhood. mine's vasastan because it's central but not pretentious, and i can walk to three different coffee shops that don't roast their own beans (fight me, third wave purists).
just be prepared for the winter darkness. like, actual darkness. you'll understand why everyone's so into candles and cozy interiors. it's survival, not aesthetics.
for more practical info, check out r/goteborg for local tips, Gothenburg.com for official tourism stuff, and Expatistan Gothenburg for cost comparisons with other cities.
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