Which place is cheaper, Seattle or Gothenburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Gothenburg or Seattle?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Gothenburg or Seattle? 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 Seattle?
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.
Seattle
Situated on the Puget Sound in the state of Washington, Seattle is the largest city in the United States Pacific Northwest. It's a beautiful city surrounded by the water and mountains and filled with evergreen trees. It's also the home of some famous American institutions including Starbucks Coffee, Amazon, and Microsoft. The population of almost 700,000 continues to grow. As of 2014, the city was considered the fastest growing major city in the United States. The entire metropolitan area has about 3.6 million residents, making it the 15th largest metro area in the US. The natural beauty, growing economy, and educational base give Seattle a youthful vibe that keep the city young and energetic.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGothenburg $98Seattle $205
The average daily cost (per person) in Gothenburg is $98, while the average daily cost in Seattle is $205. 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 Seattle in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGothenburg $40Seattle $120
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGothenburg $80Seattle $240
Compare Hotels in Gothenburg and Seattle
Looking for a hotel in Gothenburg or Seattle? 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.
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 Seattle Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Gothenburg $18Seattle $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $15
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $15
- Transfer From Gothenburg Hotel To Gothenburg Museum of Art: $32
- Private Transfer from Gothenburg Airport (GOT) to Goteborg Port: $50
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Goteborg City to Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Private Transfer from Goteborg Cruise Port to Gothenburg City: $65
- Private Transfer from Gothenburg city to Goteborg Cruise Port: $65
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
- Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $95
- Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $102
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seattle
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Seattle:
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Lightrail from Airport (for 2)$5.50
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Roundtrip Ferry to Bainbridge Island (for 2)$15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seattle
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seattle:
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Seattle Airport (SEA)- Seattle Downtown: $86
- Smith Cove Terminal: Private Transfer to Seattle hotels: $310
- Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $149
- Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle hotels - Arrival Private Transfer : $74
- Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) - Departure Private Transfer: $74
- Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle Hotels Arrival Private Transfer : $74
- Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle Airport (SEA) - Departure Transfer: $74
- One-Way Private Transfer from Seattle Airport: $76
- Seattle, WA: Seaplane transfer to Vancouver, BC: $265
- Seattle Tacoma Airport(SEA): Transfer to Smith Cove Terminal: $310
- Seattle Tacoma Airport to Summit at Snoqualmie Arrival Transfer: $153
- Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA): Private Transfer to Seattle: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Gothenburg or Seattle?
Prices for flights to both Seattle 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
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Food Meals for one dayGothenburg $38Seattle $51
Typical Food Prices in Seattle
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seattle are as follows:
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Expresso & cookie at Pier 70$7.00
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Cashews at Pike Place Market$6.00
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6 Mini Donuts at Pike Place Market$3.25
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Chinese Lunch in International District (for 2)$21
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Breakfast at Lowel's in Pike Place Market (for 2)$32
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Breakfast at French Cafe (for 2)$37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seattle
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seattle.
- Secret Food Tours Seattle: $65
- Seattle Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $65
- Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market- 2 Hours: $67
- Eat Around the World Seattle Food Tour: $69
- International District Food Tour: $69
- Street Food Tour of South Lake Union: $75
- Secret Food Tours: Seattle Pike Place Market: $85
- Pike Place Market Food Tour: $99
- Small Group Cooking Class: $138
- Private Seattle Cooking Class with a Chef in Her Home: $198
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Gothenburg $16Seattle $16
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Universeum Entry Ticket: $21
- Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $30
- Hop-On Hop-Off 24-Hour Sightseeing Boat: $30
- Lilla Bommen: 4-Hour Guided Boat Tour to Vinga Island: $31
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $31
- Land & Water Amphibious Bus Sightseeing Tour: $31
- 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
- City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
- Paddan Sightseeing Cruise on the Savean River: $33
- Guided boat tour to Vinga in Gothenburg: $33
- Archipelago cruise with guide: $37
- Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
Tours and Activities in Seattle
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seattle are as follows:
- 3 Hour Seattle City Tour: $90
- 2 Hour Seattle City Snapshots Tour: $85
- 2 Hour Sound Tour: $98
- 2-Hour Seattle Sailing Harbor Tour: $45
- 3 Hours Electric Bike Tour of Seattle's Waterways, Nature and Neighborhoods: $87
- 5-hour Seattle and Suburbs Attractions Tour: $185
- Beneath The Streets Underground History Tour: $29
- Best of Seattle Small Group Walking Tour W/ Space Needle: $244
- Boeing Factory Tour with Guided Transport from Seattle: $125
- Chef Guided Happy Hour Tour - Cocktails, Bubbles and Bites: $140
- CitySightseeing Seattle Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour + Bookable Extras: $43
- Customized Mount Rainier Tour from Seattle: $195
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGothenburg $21Seattle $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Seattle
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Seattle:
- Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $38
- Where the Hops Grow! Yakima Brewery Tour : $40
- Woodinville Wine Country: Downtown Wine Tasting Pass: $65
- Woodinville Wine Country: Artisan Hill Wine Tasting Pass: $65
- Brewery and Restaurant Tour of Historic Seattle Neighborhood: $109
- Bon Vivant Woodinville Wine Tasting Tour : $120
- From Snoqualmie Falls & Woodinville Wine Tasting: $262
- Snoqualmie Falls + Wine Tasting: All-Inclusive Small-Group Tour: $263
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gothenburg and Seattle, we can see that Seattle 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 Seattle 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 Seattle would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seattle 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 Seattle Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Gothenburg or Seattle?
Seattle has a larger population, and is about 13% larger than the population of Gothenburg. When comparing the sizes of Gothenburg and Seattle, 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 Seattle?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Gothenburg or Seattle in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Gothenburg as well as Seattle. Also, many visitors come to Seattle in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Gothenburg is cooler than Seattle in the summer. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 16°C (61°F) in July, and Seattle fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seattle. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Gothenburg this time of the year. In the summer, Gothenburg often gets less sunshine than Seattle. Gothenburg gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seattle receives 313 hours of full sun.
Gothenburg usually gets more rain in July than Seattle. Gothenburg gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 0.9 inches (22 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGothenburg 16°C (61°F)Seattle 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Seattle in the Autumn?
Both Seattle and Gothenburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Seattle for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Gothenburg is cooler than Seattle. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Gothenburg in October average around 9°C (47°F), and Seattle averages at about 54°F (12°C).
Gothenburg usually receives less sunshine than Seattle during autumn. Gothenburg gets 94 hours of sunny skies, while Seattle receives 143 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Gothenburg usually receives around the same amount of rain as Seattle. Gothenburg gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGothenburg 9°C (47°F)Seattle 54°F (12°C)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Seattle in the Winter?
Both Seattle and Gothenburg during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Seattle because of the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Gothenburg can be very cold during winter. In January, Gothenburg is generally much colder than Seattle. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around -2°C (29°F), and Seattle fluctuates around 42°F (5°C).
In the winter, Gothenburg often gets less sunshine than Seattle. Gothenburg gets 40 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seattle receives 67 hours of full sun.
Seattle gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Gothenburg usually gets less rain in January than Seattle. Gothenburg gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 5.4 inches (136 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGothenburg -2°C (29°F)Seattle 42°F (5°C)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Seattle in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Gothenburg and Seattle. Furthermore, the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Seattle this time of year.
Gothenburg is much colder than Seattle in the spring. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 5°C (41°F) in April, and Seattle fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Seattle this time of the year. Gothenburg usually receives less sunshine than Seattle during spring. Gothenburg gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Seattle receives 212 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Gothenburg usually receives less rain than Seattle. Gothenburg gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGothenburg 5°C (41°F)Seattle 51°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Seattle and Gothenburg
| Gothenburg | Seattle | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 42°F (5°C) | 5.4 inches (136 mm) |
| Feb | -2°C (29°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| Mar | 1°C (34°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Apr | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| May | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.9 inches (47 mm) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) |
| Oct | 9°C (47°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Nov | 4°C (38°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) |
| Dec | 0°C (32°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 6 inches (152 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.