A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Gothenburg vs. New York City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Gothenburg or New York City?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Gothenburg or New York City? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Gothenburg or New York City?

Gothenburg

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.

New York City

The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Sweden, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.


Which place is cheaper, New York City or Gothenburg?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Gothenburg Prices
    Sweden Prices
    New York City Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Gothenburg $144
    New York City $363

The average daily cost (per person) in Gothenburg is $144, while the average daily cost in New York City is $363. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Gothenburg and New York City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Gothenburg $46
    New York City $175
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Gothenburg $92
    New York City $350
Compare Hotels in Gothenburg and New York City

Looking for a hotel in Gothenburg or New York City? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Gothenburg


Hotels in New York City


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Gothenburg Hotel Prices and New York City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Gothenburg $21
    New York City $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg

Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $170
  • Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $110
  • Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $17
  • Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $17
  • City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $130
  • Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $175
  • Gothenburg Airport: Transfer to City center of Gothenburg: $76
  • Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $214
  • Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Arrival Private Transfer: $107
  • Airport Transfer: Gothenburg to Airport GOT by Business Car: $124

Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City

Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:


  • Subway
    $4.50
  • Taxi Ride
    $8.00
  • Subway
    $2.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City

Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Try find your better than us! Airport transfer in New York HTL-APT (JFK,EWR,LGA): $173
  • Transfer from Newark Airport to Times Square New York: $150
  • Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Guided Tour with Ferry Transfers: $64
  • Shared transfer Newark Airport to Manhattan: $30
  • Private Transfer: Manhattan to JFK, LGA or EWR by Sedan or SUV: $134
  • Private Transfer: Manhattan to Cruise Port by Sedan or SUV: $84
  • Private Transfer in New York City (JFK/LGA) Airport/Home/Hotel/Work: $180
  • Private Transfer from or to New York to EWR Airport or vice versa: $280
  • Private Transfer from Newark Int Airport (EWR) to Manhattan Port: $47
  • Private Transfer from Newark Airport (EWR) to Cape Liberty Port: $44
  • Private Transfer from New York city hotels to Brooklyn Port: $64
  • Private Transfer from New York City Hotels to Manhattan Port: $47

Is it cheaper to fly into Gothenburg or New York City?

Prices for flights to both New York City and Gothenburg change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Gothenburg $76
    New York City $87

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gothenburg

For Gothenburg, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Taysta's Food Tour i Göteborg: $43

Typical Food Prices in New York City

For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Gelato
    $7.50
  • Snacks for Two at Yankees Game
    $34
  • Coffee
    $6.53
  • Smoothie
    $6.95

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City

For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • New York Union Square Sweetest Food Tour: Choose Your Own Donuts: $35
  • The Greenwich Village Food Tour: $39
  • The Chinatown, Little Italy, Food Tour: $39
  • Private Pizza Experience (5 tastings) in Manhattan: $45
  • Brooklyn's must-try Pizza Crawl experience (5 top rated slices!): $46
  • Central Park Cafe: Scenic Lunch & Dinner Experience in NYC: $50
  • Chelsea Food Tour NYC Pizza Tacos and Chelsea Market Walk: $55
  • Homemade Pizza Party in NYC: $63
  • New York City's Best Pizza tour - You be the judge!: $68
  • Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO Food Tour: Local Eats & Iconic Views: $70
  • East Village Food Tour: $70
  • Astoria Queens Global Bites Food Tour (NYC): $71

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Gothenburg $18
    New York City $180

Tours and Activities in Gothenburg

For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $37
  • 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Tour by Bus and Boat: $54
  • Archipelago Tour with Guide in Gothenburg: $46
  • Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $48
  • Bike Tour Gothenburg, Guided Bicycle Tours: $65
  • City Kayak Tour: $60
  • City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $38
  • Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $70
  • Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $76
  • Gothenburg - Private guided tour: $581
  • Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $37
  • Gothenburg : Must-See Attractions Walking Tour: $122

Typical Entertainment Prices in New York City

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Comedy Show Tickets
    $56
  • City Map
    $8.00
  • Broadway Musical
    $111
  • Broadway Show Program
    $10
  • Magazine
    $6.99

Tours and Activities in New York City

For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • #1 Rated NYC Chinatown Food and History Walking Tour with FNYT: $99
  • & Juliet on Broadway Ticket: $92
  • "International Express" 7 Train Ultimate Authentic NYC Experience: $55
  • "The Met" Metropolitan Museum of Art Exclusive Guided Tour: $133
  • 1 Day Tour to Philadelphia and Hershey's Chocolate World: $250
  • 1 Hour Live Interactive Driving Virtual Tour of Manhattan: $200
  • 1 Hour Private Guided Tour: $50
  • 1-Day New York City Tour: Liberty Cruise & One World Observatory: $168
  • 1-Day New York In-Depth Tour: $130
  • 1-Day New York Insider Tour: $180
  • 1-Day Tour to Boston from New York: $104
  • 10+ stops Central Park Pedicab Tour Customizable Landmarks: $250

For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.


Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Gothenburg $23
    New York City $29

Sample the Local Flavors in New York City

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:

  • Brooklyn Distillery Tour: $22
  • NYC Bar Crawl: Games, Live Music & Underground Nightlife: $28
  • New York Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
  • NYC Pub Crawl Tour: $30
  • Top Shelf Distillery Tour: $33
  • NYC Pub Crawl & Rooftop Clubbing Experience: $34
  • Cheers to Chinatown Tour and Bar Crawl: $40
  • Brooklyn Literary Pub Crawl: $49
  • Best of NYC Drag - Drag Bar Crawl with Drink: $49
  • Greenwich Village Literary Pub Crawl: $49
  • Greenwich Village Piano Bar Crawl: $50
  • Broadway Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gothenburg and New York City, we can see that New York City is more expensive. And not only is Gothenburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Gothenburg is in Europe and New York City is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Gothenburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gothenburg and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City than you might in Gothenburg.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Gothenburg Expensive? and Is New York City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Gothenburg or New York City?

New York City has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Gothenburg. When comparing the sizes of Gothenburg and New York City, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.


When is the best time to visit Gothenburg or New York City?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Gothenburg or New York City in the Summer?

Both New York City and Gothenburg are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, the summer months attract visitors to New York City because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Gothenburg is much colder than New York City. Typically, the summer temperatures in Gothenburg in July average around 16°C (61°F), and New York City averages at about 77°F (25°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New York City. In July, Gothenburg usually receives less rain than New York City. Gothenburg gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Gothenburg 16°C (61°F) 
    New York City 77°F (25°C)

Should I visit Gothenburg or New York City in the Autumn?

Both New York City and Gothenburg during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to New York City this time of year.

In October, Gothenburg is generally much colder than New York City. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around 9°C (47°F), and New York City fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

Gothenburg usually gets more rain in October than New York City. Gothenburg gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Gothenburg 9°C (47°F) 
    New York City 57°F (14°C)

Should I visit Gothenburg or New York City in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Gothenburg and New York City. Furthermore, many travelers come to New York City for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in New York City. It's quite cold in Gothenburg in the winter. Gothenburg is much colder than New York City in the winter. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around -2°C (29°F) in January, and New York City fluctuates around 31°F (-1°C).

In January, Gothenburg usually receives less rain than New York City. Gothenburg gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Gothenburg -2°C (29°F) 
    New York City 31°F (-1°C)

Should I visit Gothenburg or New York City in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Gothenburg as well as New York City. Additionally, many visitors come to New York City in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Gothenburg is much colder than New York City. Typically, the spring temperatures in Gothenburg in April average around 5°C (41°F), and New York City averages at about 52°F (11°C).

Gothenburg usually gets less rain in April than New York City. Gothenburg gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Gothenburg 5°C (41°F) 
    New York City 52°F (11°C)

Typical Weather for New York City and Gothenburg

Gothenburg New York City
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -2°C (29°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 31°F (-1°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm)
Feb -2°C (29°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 33°F (1°C) 3 inches (77 mm)
Mar 1°C (34°F) 50 mm (2 in) 42°F (6°C) 3.9 inches (98 mm)
Apr 5°C (41°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 52°F (11°C) 3.8 inches (98 mm)
May 11°C (51°F) 51 mm (2 in) 63°F (17°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 72°F (22°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Jul 16°C (61°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 77°F (25°C) 4.5 inches (114 mm)
Aug 16°C (60°F) 77 mm (3 in) 76°F (24°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm)
Sep 12°C (54°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 68°F (20°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm)
Oct 9°C (47°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 57°F (14°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)
Nov 4°C (38°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 47°F (8°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm)
Dec 0°C (32°F) 75 mm (3 in) 36°F (2°C) 3.4 inches (88 mm)