Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Karlstad Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Karlstad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,517 in Calgary versus $1,739 in Karlstad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,646 in Calgary versus $2,699 in Karlstad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,776 in Calgary versus $3,658 in Karlstad.

Living in Calgary is roughly 45% more expensive than Karlstad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 87% above, Karlstad 29% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.37 CA$25.65

$15.95 SEK 150

15.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 CA$97.4

$68.7 SEK 645

1.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 CA$15.19

$11.17 SEK 105

-2.60%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.16

$4.96 SEK 46.57

-25.60%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 CA$2.84

$2.70 SEK 25.36

-24.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.43

$2.20 SEK 20.67

-20.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.30 CA$7.40

$8.52 SEK 79.9

-37.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.42

$8.31 SEK 78.0

-18.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$1.44 SEK 13.47

54.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.75

$2.89 SEK 27.11

-7.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 CA$4.68

$3.92 SEK 36.78

-14.54%

Eggs

$3.33 CA$4.65

$4.76 SEK 44.61

-30.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.41 CA$20.12

$12.33 SEK 116

16.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.50 CA$17.46

$14.25 SEK 134

-12.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 CA$22.81

$17.02 SEK 160

-4.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 CA$5.98

$2.99 SEK 28.05

43.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.89

$2.58 SEK 24.24

-47.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.22

$3.23 SEK 30.32

15.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.17 CA$5.83

$5.08 SEK 47.62

-17.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$1.58 SEK 14.82

62.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.74

$1.75 SEK 16.41

53.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CA$3.71

$2.60 SEK 24.43

2.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$1.26 SEK 11.86

49.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 CA$20.47

$7.29 SEK 68.4

101.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 CA$19.87

$10.69 SEK 100

33.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 CA$4.12

$1.74 SEK 16.33

69.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 CA$5.44

$1.69 SEK 15.85

130.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 CA$3.79

$3.20 SEK 30.06

-15.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.7 CA$122

$85.3 SEK 800

2.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 CA$4.83

$5.74 SEK 53.9

-39.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.81

$1.34 SEK 12.62

-2.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.30 CA$39.52

$64.6 SEK 606

-56.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.52

$1.99 SEK 18.65

-45.23%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.0K CA$34.9K

$32.0K SEK 300.0K

-21.76%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.2K CA$31.0K

$34.4K SEK 322.5K

-35.36%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$211 CA$295

$104 SEK 979

102.22%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$40.40 CA$56.4

$29.36 SEK 275

37.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.5 CA$81.7

$43.62 SEK 409

34.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.8 CA$75.1

$46.21 SEK 433

16.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.2

$17.25 SEK 162

212.00%

Cinema Ticket

$12.64 CA$17.66

$14.26 SEK 134

-11.36%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$865 CA$1,208

$146 SEK 1,374

490.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.4K

$3,179 SEK 29.8K

405.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 CA$81.1

$86.4 SEK 811

-32.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.18 CA$65.9

$41.41 SEK 388

13.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.4 CA$119

$82.6 SEK 775

3.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$148

$148 SEK 1,386

-28.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,416 CA$1,977

$1,065 SEK 9,987

32.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,611

$572 SEK 5,365

101.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 CA$3,309

$1,212 SEK 11.4K

95.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 CA$2,603

$907 SEK 8,512

105.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,834 CA$5,354

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,443 CA$4,808

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,105 CA$4,337

$3,261 SEK 30.6K

-4.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

4.8

18.96%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Calgary: June 7, 2026

Last update for Karlstad: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,416 in Calgary and $1,065 in Karlstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Karlstad pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Calgary vs $69.0 in Karlstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $393 vs $373 per month, with Karlstad cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Calgary vs Karlstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karlstad is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Karlstad earns 5% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,416 in Calgary versus $1,065 in Karlstad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Karlstad – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,517 per month in Calgary versus $1,739 in Karlstad – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,739 in Karlstad versus $2,517 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Karlstad but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Karlstad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Calgary and Karlstad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Karlstad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.