Cost of Living Comparison Between Sweden and CanadaCost of Living Comparison Between Sweden and Canada
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,826 per month in Sweden vs $2,316 in Canada, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,827 per month in Sweden vs $3,376 in Canada, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,828 per month in Sweden vs $4,436 in Canada, rent included.
🙂Sweden is roughly 21% cheaper than Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Both Sweden and Canada are pricier than the global median – Sweden by 36%, Canada by 73%.
📏Canada has a wider regional cost range ($1,310–$3,100) than Sweden ($1,453–$2,505), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Canada.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.55SEK 136
$18.44CA$25.53
-21.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.6SEK 799
$74.5CA$103
14.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39SEK 106
$10.88CA$15.07
4.69%
Cappuccino
$4.71SEK 43.93
$3.90CA$5.39
20.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89SEK 26.99
$2.16CA$2.99
33.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33SEK 21.72
$1.73CA$2.40
34.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.95SEK 74.2
$5.74CA$7.94
38.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.96SEK 74.3
$6.05CA$8.37
31.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71SEK 15.95
$2.20CA$3.05
-22.27%
White Bread(500g)
$3.12SEK 29.12
$2.75CA$3.81
13.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.73SEK 34.78
$3.66CA$5.07
1.91%
Eggs
$4.37SEK 40.76
$3.63CA$5.03
20.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.24SEK 114
$11.72CA$16.22
4.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.47SEK 116
$12.28CA$17.01
1.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.26SEK 180
$14.88CA$20.60
29.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15SEK 29.39
$4.14CA$5.73
-23.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.72SEK 25.36
$1.45CA$2.01
87.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.07SEK 28.66
$3.79CA$5.25
-19.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.53SEK 42.23
$4.09CA$5.66
10.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76SEK 16.45
$2.73CA$3.78
-35.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77SEK 16.49
$2.77CA$3.83
-36.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.34SEK 21.79
$2.62CA$3.62
-10.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46SEK 13.59
$1.87CA$2.59
-21.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.87SEK 73.5
$14.79CA$20.48
-46.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.80SEK 110
$13.08CA$18.11
-9.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06SEK 19.21
$3.03CA$4.19
-32.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26SEK 21.10
$3.41CA$4.72
-33.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Sweden
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.73SEK 34.85
$2.52CA$3.49
48.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.9SEK 849
$77.9CA$108
16.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.23SEK 58.1
$3.49CA$4.83
78.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.83SEK 17.09
$1.48CA$2.04
23.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.9SEK 587
$28.25CA$39.12
122.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02SEK 18.83
$1.15CA$1.59
75.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2KSEK 309.8K
$25.4KCA$35.2K
30.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KSEK 327.0K
$20.6KCA$28.6K
69.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$126SEK 1,177
$155CA$214
-18.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.71SEK 268
$45.76CA$63.4
-37.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.37SEK 358
$62.2CA$86.1
-38.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.25SEK 394
$43.67CA$60.5
-3.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.41SEK 256
$18.14CA$25.11
51.10%
Cinema Ticket
$16.92SEK 158
$11.38CA$15.76
48.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$155SEK 1,448
$798CA$1,104
-80.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,620SEK 24.5K
$12.1KCA$16.8K
-78.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.7SEK 865
$56.8CA$78.7
63.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.34SEK 395
$42.19CA$58.4
0.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103SEK 965
$87.9CA$122
17.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148SEK 1,385
$106CA$147
39.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sweden
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$944SEK 8,810
$1,359CA$1,882
-30.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$740SEK 6,907
$1,204CA$1,667
-38.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,580SEK 14.7K
$2,136CA$2,957
-26.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,212SEK 11.3K
$1,860CA$2,575
-34.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,503SEK 51.4K
$4,642CA$6,427
18.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,605SEK 33.6K
$3,852CA$5,333
-6.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,258SEK 30.4K
$3,029CA$4,194
7.57%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Canada: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $870 in Sweden vs $1,281 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,589 in Stockholm and $1,500 in Ottawa.
💰Average salary: $3,091 in Sweden vs $2,972 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 47% 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 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 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.