Townleap

Cost of Living: Dunedin vs Gothenburg (2026)

New Zealand vs Sweden — relocation comparison

Your passport:
Dunedin
Gothenburg
$991/mo
Rent

1BR centre

$1,080/mo
PR path
5 yr
Freelance setup
Enskild firma
  • VAT-free under €7k
  • 29% social
  • €1000/yr accountant
WiseStripe

Sourced from Numbeo · Updated May 2026

TL;DRDunedin has milder winters (39°F vs 27°F lows). Both countries will let you complain about the government in public — and mean it.
Gothenburg edges ahead 80 to 72. Dunedin isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you.
How the livability score breaks down
Dunedin
Gothenburg
19.3/25
💰 Affordability
18.5/25
13.5/15
🔒 Violent Crime
13.9/15
7.2/10
🛡️ Perceived Safety
5.4/10
5.3/15
Internet
12.3/15
14.4/15
🗳️ Democracy
14.1/15
10/10
🗣️ English
8.6/10
6.5/10
☀️ Climate
7/10
7.1/10
📊 Stability
7.2/10
4.3/10
🚗 Road Safety
10/10
5.9/10
🕊️ Geopolitical Safety
7.2/10
Household
Dunedin
Metric
Gothenburg
$568/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
lower is better
$631/mo
🧳
Cost to land
lower is better
$3,302
88 / 100
🛡️
Settler safety
higher is better
85 / 100
1.5 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
lower is better
1.1 / 100k
🚗
Road deaths
lower is better
2.1 / 100k
72 / 100
🚨
Safety Index
higher is better
54 / 100
64°F
☀️
Summer high
personal taste
66°F
39°F
❄️
Winter low
personal taste
27°F
Internet speed
higher is better
163 Mbps
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
lower is better
5.6 μg/m³
🏥
Healthcare
higher is better
84 / 100
9.6 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
higher is better
9.4 / 10
8.3 / 9
🤝
Migrant acceptance
higher is better
7.9 / 9
81 / 100
🏳️‍🌈
Rainbow Index
higher is better
64 / 100
100/100
🗣️
Street English
higher is better
71/100
$56k
💼
GDP per capita (PPP)
higher is better
$72k
2.9% · Boringly steady
📈
Inflation
lower is better
2.8% · Boringly steady
Grid reliability
higher is better
93/100 — Reliable
99/100
🗽
Freedom House
higher is better
99/100
See exactly what you keep after taxes in each city

Sources: Numbeo · UNODC · Ookla · WHO · EIU · Gallup · World Bank · Freedom House · Updated May 2026

💰
Cost of Living
Dunedin
$89/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Gothenburg
1.1 homicides per 100k

Sun

How much sky you actually get

34% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
Sky clear
avg daytime
41% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
15.7h
Shortest day
Dec
6.5h
8.7h
Longest day
Jun
18.1h

Sun clocks out early in Gothenburg's winter. Plan accordingly.

Source: WeatherSpark (clear-sky share of daytime hours)

Settler Essentials

Democracy trend
stable
Inflation trend
improving
Industries
automotivemaritimecleantechfintech
Startup ecosystem
active
🇺🇸 Your visa
Moderate
EU visa
Easy
RU visa
Complex
UA visa
Moderate
Spouse works
Partner can work immediately
Partner pathway
Recognized
sambo

Visa stamps:Easy <90 daysModerate 3–6 moComplex 6+ mo

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · official immigration portals

Reproductive Rights

Because your body shouldn't need a visa too

On request
Abortion access
On request
20 wk
Gestational limit
18 wk

On request up to 20 weeks since the Abortion Legislation Act 2020. After 20 weeks, permitted if a qualified health practitioner considers it clinically appropriate.

On request up to 18 weeks. Between 18-22 weeks requires board approval.

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

LGBTQ+ Rights

Can you hold hands without doing a risk assessment first

Legal
Marriage
Legal
Joint adoption
Adoption
Joint adoption
Yes
Job protection
Yes
Yes
Hate crime law
Yes

Dunedin vs Gothenburg — Common Questions

Is Dunedin cheaper than Gothenburg?

Dunedin is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $991/month there vs $1080/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Dunedin or Gothenburg?

Gothenburg is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Dunedin has a rate of 1.46 per 100,000 and Gothenburg has 1.10 per 100,000.

Should I move to Dunedin or Gothenburg?

Gothenburg edges ahead 80 to 72. Dunedin isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Dunedin or Gothenburg?

Dunedin: no specific remote work visa. Gothenburg: Sweden Self-Employment Permit (complex process, 2 years (renewable)). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Can I live in Dunedin or Gothenburg without speaking the local language?

Dunedin is easier for street-level English (100/100) than Gothenburg (71/100). That's the score that matters for doctors, landlords, and bureaucracy. Office English can still run higher than street English in both cities.

What's the cost of rent in Dunedin vs Gothenburg?

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $991/month in Dunedin, $1080/month in Gothenburg (Numbeo). That's 8% cheaper rent in Dunedin.

Plot twist: other matchups exist

Maybe the real city was the comparisons we made along the way.

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