Townleap

Cost of Living: Funchal vs Gothenburg (2026)

Portugal vs Sweden — relocation comparison

TL;DRGothenburg is 31% cheaper on rent ($1080/mo vs $1568/mo). Gothenburg scores 9.4 vs 8.1 on democracy. Both countries will let you complain about the government in public — and mean it.
68
Livability Score
🇵🇹 Funchal
Portugal
Full profile
78
Livability Score
🇸🇪 Gothenburg
Sweden
Full profile
Gothenburg scores 78 to Funchal's 68 on livability — the gap is real. Funchal has its charms, but the numbers favor Gothenburg.
💰
Cost of Living
Gothenburg
$488/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Funchal
0.7 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Gothenburg
9.4/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
24°C vs 19°C summers
Funchal
Metric
Gothenburg
$1568/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1080/mo
$487/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$631/mo
🧳
Cost to land
$3,302
0.7 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
1.1 / 100k
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
46 / 100
24°C
☀️
Summer high
19°C
13°C
❄️
Winter low
-3°C
Internet speed
163 Mbps
4.9 μg/m³
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
5.6 μg/m³
8.1 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
9.4 / 10
72/100
🗣️
Street English
71/100
$52k
💼
GDP per capita
$72k
2.4% · Boringly steady
📈
Inflation
2.8% · Boringly steady
68 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
78 / 100
Grid reliability
82/100 — Mostly stable
🗽
Freedom House
99/100
📋
Time to PR
5 years

Settler Essentials

Democracy trend
stable
Industries
automotivemaritimecleantechfintech
Startup ecosystem
active
Grid reliability
82/100
Time to PR
5 yrs
EU visa
Easy
RU visa
Complex
UA visa
Moderate

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

The Short Version

  • Rent is 31% cheaper in Gothenburg ($1080/mo vs $1568/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are noticeably warmer in Funchal (24°C vs 19°C).
  • Gothenburg scores higher on democracy (9.4 vs 8.1 / 10 EIU).

Funchal vs Gothenburg — Common Questions

Is Funchal cheaper than Gothenburg?

Gothenburg is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1080/month in Gothenburg vs $1568/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Funchal or Gothenburg?

Funchal is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Funchal has a rate of 0.72 per 100,000 and Gothenburg has 1.10 per 100,000.

Should I move to Funchal or Gothenburg?

Gothenburg scores 78 to Funchal's 68 on livability — the gap is real. Funchal has its charms, but the numbers favor Gothenburg. 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 Funchal or Gothenburg?

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

Which has better weather, Funchal or Gothenburg?

Funchal is warmer in summer (24°C vs 19°C). Gothenburg has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

Factor in your salary, family size, weather preferences, and deal-breakers.