Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlstad and Midland, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlstad and Midland, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,740 per month in Karlstad vs $2,654 in Midland, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,725 per month in Karlstad vs $3,861 in Midland, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,710 per month in Karlstad vs $5,067 in Midland, TX, rent included.

Karlstad is about 34% cheaper than Midland, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Karlstad and Midland, TX sit above the global median – Karlstad by 30%, Midland, TX by 99%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.72 SEK 151

$27.32 $27.32

-42.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.6 SEK 661

$75.9 $75.9

-9.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 SEK 105

$9.30 $9.30

17.42%

Cappuccino

$4.76 SEK 45.90

$4.88 $4.88

-2.46%

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

$2.71 SEK 26.12

$2.50 $2.50

8.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 SEK 21.16

$2.02 $2.02

8.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.47 SEK 81.6

$6.01 $6.01

40.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 SEK 78.0

$6.95 $6.95

16.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 SEK 14.05

$1.01 $1.01

44.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.84 SEK 27.34

$3.53 $3.53

-19.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.78 SEK 36.39

$4.28 $4.28

-11.68%

Eggs

$4.62 SEK 44.52

$4.26 $4.26

8.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.18 SEK 117

$12.47 $12.47

-2.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.78 SEK 133

$11.59 $11.59

18.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.95 SEK 163

$15.16 $15.16

11.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.11 SEK 29.96

$4.90 $4.90

-36.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 SEK 24.64

$1.63 $1.63

57.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.30 SEK 31.80

$4.34 $4.34

-23.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 SEK 48.97

$4.68 $4.68

8.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 SEK 15.80

$2.88 $2.88

-43.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 SEK 17.12

$2.77 $2.77

-35.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 SEK 25.28

$2.04 $2.04

28.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 SEK 12.26

$2.11 $2.11

-39.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.27 SEK 70.0

$9.79 $9.79

-25.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.18 SEK 98.1

$13.49 $13.49

-24.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 SEK 17.10

$1.69 $1.69

4.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 SEK 16.79

$3.46 $3.46

-49.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.19 SEK 30.72

$1.95 $1.95

63.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.7 SEK 816

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.76 SEK 55.5

$3.55 $3.55

62.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 SEK 13.57

$1.59 $1.59

-11.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$65.1 SEK 627

$29.29 $29.29

122.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.92 SEK 18.49

$0.76 $0.76

152.63%

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

$32.3K SEK 311.6K

$29.0K $29.0K

11.51%

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

$34.8K SEK 335.1K

$25.9K $25.9K

34.19%

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

$104 SEK 1,007

$188 $188

-44.32%

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

$29.44 SEK 284

$43.16 $43.16

-31.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.91 SEK 414

$67.5 $67.5

-36.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.89 SEK 433

$43.09 $43.09

4.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.55 SEK 169

Cinema Ticket

$14.53 SEK 140

$13.36 $13.36

8.76%

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

$150 SEK 1,443

$1,274 $1,274

-88.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,129 SEK 30.2K

$23.2K $23.2K

-86.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.6 SEK 863

$51.7 $51.7

73.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.15 SEK 397

$40.76 $40.76

0.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 SEK 780

$85.9 $85.9

-5.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 SEK 1,416

$112 $112

30.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 SEK 10.1K

$1,576 $1,576

-33.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$587 SEK 5,655

$1,337 $1,337

-56.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,233 SEK 11.9K

$2,682 $2,682

-54.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$894 SEK 8,612

$2,178 $2,178

-58.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,021 $2,021

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,974 $1,974

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,085 SEK 29.7K

$5,759 $5,759

-46.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.8

6.53

-26.49%

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

Last update for Karlstad: July 11, 2026

Last update for Midland, TX: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,048 in Karlstad versus $1,576 in Midland, TX. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 87% higher in Midland, TX, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Karlstad versus $76.0 in Midland, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $385 – making Karlstad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Karlstad vs Midland, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Midland, TX is pricier by about 53%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,611 per month in Karlstad and $3,982 in Midland, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karlstad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,740 in Karlstad and $2,654 in Midland, TX. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $150 per month in Karlstad and $1,274 in Midland, TX. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlstad, where all-in costs run around $1,740, than in Midland, TX at $2,654. In Karlstad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Midland, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Karlstad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Karlstad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Midland, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.