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

Sweden vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries