Cost of Living Comparison Between Sweden and CanadaCost of Living Comparison Between Sweden and Canada
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,828 per month in Sweden vs $2,319 in Canada, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,831 per month in Sweden vs $3,378 in Canada, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,834 per month in Sweden vs $4,437 in Canada, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Sweden is roughly 21% lower than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Both Sweden and Canada are pricier than the global median – Sweden by 37%, Canada by 74%.
📏The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($1,332–$3,143) than in Sweden ($1,448–$2,582), so city choice matters more there.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.86SEK 143
$18.63CA$26.11
-20.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.4SEK 823
$74.0CA$104
15.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.45SEK 110
$10.92CA$15.31
4.85%
Cappuccino
$4.82SEK 46.44
$3.76CA$5.28
28.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82SEK 27.19
$2.19CA$3.07
28.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38SEK 22.90
$1.74CA$2.43
36.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.04SEK 77.5
$5.93CA$8.31
35.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03SEK 77.4
$5.95CA$8.35
34.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70SEK 16.42
$2.28CA$3.20
-25.44%
White Bread(500g)
$3.13SEK 30.15
$2.67CA$3.74
17.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.86SEK 37.15
$3.78CA$5.30
2.12%
Eggs
$4.53SEK 43.66
$3.50CA$4.90
29.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.07SEK 116
$11.70CA$16.40
3.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.20SEK 118
$12.30CA$17.24
-0.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.93SEK 182
$15.44CA$21.65
22.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15SEK 30.38
$4.28CA$6.00
-26.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.84SEK 27.32
$1.45CA$2.04
95.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.07SEK 29.59
$4.01CA$5.62
-23.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.38SEK 42.17
$4.27CA$5.98
2.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84SEK 17.69
$2.69CA$3.77
-31.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82SEK 17.56
$2.65CA$3.71
-31.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.33SEK 22.50
$2.64CA$3.70
-11.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46SEK 14.03
$1.89CA$2.65
-22.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.14SEK 78.5
$14.77CA$20.71
-44.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.30SEK 109
$13.32CA$18.67
-15.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11SEK 20.29
$2.96CA$4.15
-28.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18SEK 21.03
$3.28CA$4.59
-33.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Sweden
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.71SEK 35.79
$2.62CA$3.67
41.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.6SEK 873
$78.1CA$110
15.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.52SEK 62.8
$3.42CA$4.79
90.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82SEK 17.58
$1.50CA$2.10
21.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.0SEK 607
$29.07CA$40.76
116.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93SEK 18.55
$1.20CA$1.68
60.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KSEK 307.9K
$25.5KCA$35.7K
25.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KSEK 335.7K
$20.6KCA$28.8K
69.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$127SEK 1,226
$152CA$212
-16.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.12SEK 281
$46.70CA$65.5
-37.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.54SEK 371
$61.8CA$86.7
-37.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.63SEK 401
$43.36CA$60.8
-3.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.79SEK 268
$18.05CA$25.31
53.96%
Cinema Ticket
$17.12SEK 165
$11.51CA$16.13
48.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152SEK 1,466
$806CA$1,130
-81.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,607SEK 25.1K
$12.1KCA$17.0K
-78.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.1SEK 916
$55.4CA$77.6
71.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.34SEK 398
$41.80CA$58.6
-1.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105SEK 1,009
$89.7CA$126
16.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150SEK 1,447
$106CA$149
41.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sweden
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$941SEK 9,070
$1,329CA$1,864
-29.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$744SEK 7,165
$1,207CA$1,692
-38.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,565SEK 15.1K
$2,112CA$2,961
-25.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215SEK 11.7K
$1,833CA$2,570
-33.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,268SEK 50.8K
$4,639CA$6,503
13.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,325SEK 32.0K
$3,849CA$5,396
-13.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,114SEK 30.0K
$2,948CA$4,133
5.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.52
6.33
-28.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sweden: July 12, 2026
Last update for Canada: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $868 in Sweden vs $1,281 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,566 in Stockholm and $1,481 in Ottawa.
💰Average salary: $2,959 in Sweden vs $2,904 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 48% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 13% more in Sweden.
⭐Public transport is 18% more expensive in Sweden.
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
Sweden vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Sweden?
Sweden is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 11% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Sweden, contributing to the overall 11% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Canada or in Sweden?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Sweden, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or to Sweden?
Sweden is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.