The Cost of Living in Gothenburg: A Budget Breakdown That Doesn't Suck
so i moved to gothenburg last year thinking i'd be sipping lattes in some hipster cafe while writing my novel. spoiler: i'm broke and drinking instant coffee in a 12m² room. but hey, at least the rent's cheaper than stockholm, right?
let's talk numbers. if you're planning to move here, you'll need around 12,000-15,000 SEK/month to survive without eating ramen every night. that's roughly $1,200-1,500 USD, depending on how much you like pretending you're still in college.
*rent: the big one. a one-bedroom in the city center? 8,000-12,000 SEK. want to live somewhere slightly less central? try 6,000-8,000 SEK. i'm in linne, which is like the brooklyn of gothenburg-cool, artsy, and full of people who think they're too good for the north side.
food: groceries cost about 2,500-3,500 SEK/month if you cook. eating out? 100-200 SEK for a budget meal, 300-500 SEK if you want something that doesn't taste like regret. and yes, sweden has taco friday. it's a thing.
transportation: the tram system is decent, but it's not cheap. a monthly pass is 930 SEK. or you could bike like a true gothenburger. just don't forget your helmet unless you want to look like a tourist.
fun stuff: a beer at a bar? 70-90 SEK. a movie ticket? 120-150 SEK. but hey, the archipelago is free if you've got a bike and a sense of adventure.
i asked a local barista (who looked like she'd seen some shit) about the job market. she said, "if you're not in tech or healthcare, good luck." so there's that.
weather*: it rains. a lot. like, bring an umbrella and a therapist kind of a lot. but when the sun comes out, the whole city acts like it's on vacation.
nearby cities? copenhagen's a 3-hour train ride away. oslo's 4 hours. and if you're feeling wild, you can ferry to denmark in 2 hours. just don't forget your passport.
here's the thing: gothenburg's not perfect. it's expensive, it's rainy, and the rent market is a nightmare. but it's also got soul. the people are chill, the coffee's good, and the archipelago is stupidly beautiful. so yeah, i'm staying. at least until my savings run out.
want more broke-ass tips? check out r/gothenburg or tripadvisor's gothenburg guide. and if you're looking for cheap eats, yelp's got you.
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