Cost of Living Comparison Between Sweden and CanadaCost of Living Comparison Between Sweden and Canada
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,823 per month in Sweden vs $2,215 in Canada, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,827 per month in Sweden vs $3,237 in Canada, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,831 per month in Sweden vs $4,258 in Canada, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Sweden is roughly 18% 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 33%, Canada by 62%.
📏The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($906–$3,718) than in Sweden ($1,437–$2,631), so city choice matters more there.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.88SEK 146
$17.71CA$24.77
-15.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.7SEK 792
$71.1CA$99.4
13.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.18SEK 110
$10.90CA$15.25
2.57%
Cappuccino
$4.70SEK 46.13
$3.82CA$5.34
23.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86SEK 28.09
$2.12CA$2.97
34.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35SEK 23.10
$1.75CA$2.45
34.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.98SEK 78.4
$5.77CA$8.07
38.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.65SEK 75.1
$5.72CA$8.00
33.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65SEK 16.22
$2.27CA$3.18
-27.31%
White Bread(500g)
$2.94SEK 28.88
$2.60CA$3.63
13.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.56SEK 34.96
$3.57CA$4.99
-0.28%
Eggs
$4.24SEK 41.66
$3.64CA$5.09
16.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.81SEK 116
$11.03CA$15.43
7.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.05SEK 118
$12.02CA$16.82
0.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.34SEK 190
$15.70CA$21.97
23.18%
Apples(1kg)
$3.16SEK 31.02
$4.18CA$5.84
-24.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.60SEK 25.57
$1.40CA$1.96
85.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.08SEK 30.30
$3.80CA$5.31
-18.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.54SEK 44.62
$3.98CA$5.57
14.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79SEK 17.63
$2.65CA$3.71
-32.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63SEK 16.01
$2.54CA$3.55
-35.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.34SEK 23.00
$2.64CA$3.70
-11.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42SEK 13.91
$1.79CA$2.50
-20.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.89SEK 77.6
$14.23CA$19.91
-44.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.26SEK 111
$13.22CA$18.50
-14.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03SEK 19.99
$2.98CA$4.17
-31.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19SEK 21.51
$3.20CA$4.48
-31.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Sweden
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.68SEK 36.16
$2.47CA$3.45
48.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.7SEK 881
$73.5CA$103
22.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.12SEK 60.1
$3.26CA$4.56
87.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.97SEK 19.40
$1.54CA$2.15
27.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.8SEK 607
$27.66CA$38.69
123.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 18.58
$1.20CA$1.67
57.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5KSEK 329.5K
$28.0KCA$39.1K
19.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2KSEK 336.4K
$19.4KCA$27.1K
76.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131SEK 1,291
$151CA$212
-13.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.19SEK 267
$43.37CA$60.7
-37.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.82SEK 381
$59.8CA$83.6
-35.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.38SEK 397
$40.88CA$57.2
-1.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.49SEK 270
$19.81CA$27.72
38.77%
Cinema Ticket
$16.32SEK 160
$11.39CA$15.94
43.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$155SEK 1,526
$783CA$1,095
-80.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,705SEK 46.2K
$14.6KCA$20.5K
-67.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.6SEK 930
$55.1CA$77.1
71.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.36SEK 416
$39.66CA$55.5
6.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102SEK 1,002
$89.3CA$125
14.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147SEK 1,442
$103CA$145
41.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sweden
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$863SEK 8,483
$1,299CA$1,817
-33.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$694SEK 6,821
$1,157CA$1,618
-39.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,434SEK 14.1K
$2,025CA$2,833
-29.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,155SEK 11.3K
$1,779CA$2,489
-35.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,217SEK 51.3K
$4,679CA$6,546
11.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,320SEK 32.6K
$3,883CA$5,433
-14.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,033SEK 29.8K
$3,043CA$4,257
-0.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.67
4.86
-24.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sweden: September 15, 2026
Last update for Canada: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $841 in Sweden vs $1,221 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,771 in Stockholm and $1,493 in Ottawa.
💰Average salary: $2,985 in Sweden vs $2,963 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 45% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 22% more in Sweden.
⭐Public transport is 33% 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 14% 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 14% 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.