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 $1,742 per month in Karlstad vs $2,633 in Midland, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,702 per month in Karlstad vs $3,812 in Midland, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,663 per month in Karlstad vs $4,992 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 96%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.01 SEK 149

$27.47 $27.47

-41.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.4 SEK 638

$74.3 $74.3

-7.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.18 SEK 104

$9.25 $9.25

20.86%

Cappuccino

$4.99 SEK 46.56

$5.02 $5.02

-0.60%

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

$2.70 SEK 25.16

$2.50 $2.50

8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 SEK 20.55

$2.01 $2.01

9.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.23 SEK 76.8

$5.92 $5.92

39.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 SEK 75.5

$7.13 $7.13

13.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 SEK 13.01

$1.00 $1.00

39.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.77 SEK 25.87

$3.49 $3.49

-20.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.75 SEK 35.01

$4.22 $4.22

-11.14%

Eggs

$4.82 SEK 44.98

$4.09 $4.09

17.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.91 SEK 111

$12.09 $12.09

-1.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.78 SEK 129

$11.31 $11.31

21.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.80 SEK 157

$15.47 $15.47

8.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 SEK 27.82

$4.77 $4.77

-37.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.66 SEK 24.80

$1.64 $1.64

62.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 SEK 29.82

$4.38 $4.38

-26.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.19 SEK 48.42

$4.78 $4.78

8.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 SEK 15.24

$2.78 $2.78

-41.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 SEK 16.03

$2.81 $2.81

-38.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 SEK 25.38

$2.05 $2.05

32.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 SEK 11.90

$2.16 $2.16

-40.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.36 SEK 68.7

$9.62 $9.62

-23.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.60 SEK 98.9

$13.40 $13.40

-20.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 SEK 17.07

$1.69 $1.69

8.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 SEK 16.60

$3.28 $3.28

-45.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.21 SEK 29.94

$2.04 $2.04

57.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.2 SEK 795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.62 SEK 52.5

$3.44 $3.44

63.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 SEK 13.14

$1.59 $1.59

-11.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$63.5 SEK 592

$29.23 $29.23

117.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.01 SEK 18.78

$0.70 $0.70

187.14%

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

$32.0K SEK 298.4K

$29.5K $29.5K

8.57%

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

$34.2K SEK 318.8K

$25.6K $25.6K

33.68%

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

$106 SEK 986

$185 $185

-42.86%

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

$28.98 SEK 270

$43.39 $43.39

-33.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.33 SEK 404

$68.3 $68.3

-36.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.61 SEK 426

$43.61 $43.61

4.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.09 SEK 159

Cinema Ticket

$14.37 SEK 134

$13.55 $13.55

6.05%

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

$145 SEK 1,352

$1,294 $1,294

-88.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,124 SEK 29.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

-86.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.0 SEK 831

$50.4 $50.4

76.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.03 SEK 383

$40.68 $40.68

0.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 SEK 763

$87.3 $87.3

-6.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 SEK 1,360

$114 $114

28.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,047 SEK 9,770

$1,596 $1,596

-34.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$569 SEK 5,309

$1,358 $1,358

-58.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,229 SEK 11.5K

$2,589 $2,589

-52.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$895 SEK 8,352

$2,252 $2,252

-60.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,035 $2,035

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,981 $1,981

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,262 SEK 30.4K

$5,754 $5,754

-43.30%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Midland, TX: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,047 in Karlstad versus $1,596 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 76% 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 $68.0 in Karlstad versus $74.0 in Midland, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $382 – 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 51%, 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 $2,612 per month in Karlstad and $3,949 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 $1,742 in Karlstad and $2,633 in Midland, TX. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $145 per month in Karlstad and $1,294 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 $1,742, than in Midland, TX at $2,633. 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.