How much do you need to earn to live in Gothenburg? We calculate the gross monthly salary required to cover rent, food, transport, and utilities — accounting for Sweden's tax system.
You need at least kr19,340/month gross to live in Gothenburg on a budget.
For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for kr28,638/month gross (kr22,225 net after ~22% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | kr8,000 Cheapest neighborhood (Kortedala) | kr13,500 Median neighborhood | kr17,500 Premium neighborhood (Centrum) |
| Groceries | kr3,200 | kr3,840 | kr4,800 |
| Transport | kr860 | kr860 | kr860 |
| Utilities | kr2,321 | kr2,321 | kr2,321 |
| Dining & Entertainment | kr1,420 | kr1,704 | kr2,130 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | kr15,801 | kr22,225 | kr27,611 |
kr19,340/month gross
kr28,638/month gross
kr36,434/month gross
1-bedroom second-hand rents across 15 neighborhoods in Gothenburg
Kortedala
20 min by tram
kr8,000 - kr9,700
Backa
22 min by bus
kr8,600 - kr10,400
Angered
25 min by tram
kr9,800 - kr11,200
Centrum
0 min by walk
kr16,300 - kr18,700
Linné (Linnéstaden)
10 min by tram
kr15,300 - kr17,700
Eriksberg
12 min by ferry
kr14,400 - kr16,600
See all 15 neighborhoods, detailed expense breakdowns, and savings projections.
Explore GothenburgEnter your actual salary to see your take-home pay, affordable neighborhoods, and savings potential.
Open calculatorWe total monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then reverse-calculate the gross salary needed to cover those expenses after Sweden's income tax and social contributions. Rent data comes from second-hand market listings (what expats actually pay). All figures are based on 2026 data from official government statistics. See our data sources for full attribution.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least kr19,340/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Gothenburg. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for kr28,638/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Sweden.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 15 neighborhoods in Gothenburg is approximately kr13,223/month. Rents range from kr8,000 in Kortedala to kr18,700 in Centrum.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Gothenburg cost approximately kr3,200. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Sweden are progressive. At the budget salary level of kr19,340/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 18%. At the comfortable level of kr28,638/month, it rises to approximately 22%. This includes income tax and social contributions.