Cost of Living Comparison Between Sweden and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Sweden and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,828 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
$14.86 SEK 143
$18.63 CA$26.11
-20.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.4 SEK 823
$74.0 CA$104
15.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.45 SEK 110
$10.92 CA$15.31
4.85%
Cappuccino
$4.82 SEK 46.44
$3.76 CA$5.28
28.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 SEK 27.19
$2.19 CA$3.07
28.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 SEK 22.90
$1.74 CA$2.43
36.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.04 SEK 77.5
$5.93 CA$8.31
35.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03 SEK 77.4
$5.95 CA$8.35
34.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 SEK 16.42
$2.28 CA$3.20
-25.44%
White Bread (500g)
$3.13 SEK 30.15
$2.67 CA$3.74
17.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.86 SEK 37.15
$3.78 CA$5.30
2.12%
Eggs
$4.53 SEK 43.66
$3.50 CA$4.90
29.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.07 SEK 116
$11.70 CA$16.40
3.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.20 SEK 118
$12.30 CA$17.24
-0.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.93 SEK 182
$15.44 CA$21.65
22.60%
Apples (1kg)
$3.15 SEK 30.38
$4.28 CA$6.00
-26.40%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 SEK 27.32
$1.45 CA$2.04
95.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.07 SEK 29.59
$4.01 CA$5.62
-23.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.38 SEK 42.17
$4.27 CA$5.98
2.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 SEK 17.69
$2.69 CA$3.77
-31.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 SEK 17.56
$2.65 CA$3.71
-31.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.33 SEK 22.50
$2.64 CA$3.70
-11.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 SEK 14.03
$1.89 CA$2.65
-22.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.14 SEK 78.5
$14.77 CA$20.71
-44.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.30 SEK 109
$13.32 CA$18.67
-15.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 SEK 20.29
$2.96 CA$4.15
-28.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 SEK 21.03
$3.28 CA$4.59
-33.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Sweden
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.71 SEK 35.79
$2.62 CA$3.67
41.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.6 SEK 873
$78.1 CA$110
15.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.52 SEK 62.8
$3.42 CA$4.79
90.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 SEK 17.58
$1.50 CA$2.10
21.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$63.0 SEK 607
$29.07 CA$40.76
116.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 SEK 18.55
$1.20 CA$1.68
60.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K SEK 307.9K
$25.5K CA$35.7K
25.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K SEK 335.7K
$20.6K CA$28.8K
69.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$127 SEK 1,226
$152 CA$212
-16.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.12 SEK 281
$46.70 CA$65.5
-37.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.54 SEK 371
$61.8 CA$86.7
-37.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.63 SEK 401
$43.36 CA$60.8
-3.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.79 SEK 268
$18.05 CA$25.31
53.96%
Cinema Ticket
$17.12 SEK 165
$11.51 CA$16.13
48.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$152 SEK 1,466
$806 CA$1,130
-81.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,607 SEK 25.1K
$12.1K CA$17.0K
-78.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.1 SEK 916
$55.4 CA$77.6
71.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.34 SEK 398
$41.80 CA$58.6
-1.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 SEK 1,009
$89.7 CA$126
16.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 SEK 1,447
$106 CA$149
41.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sweden
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$941 SEK 9,070
$1,329 CA$1,864
-29.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$744 SEK 7,165
$1,207 CA$1,692
-38.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,565 SEK 15.1K
$2,112 CA$2,961
-25.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 SEK 11.7K
$1,833 CA$2,570
-33.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,268 SEK 50.8K
$4,639 CA$6,503
13.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,325 SEK 32.0K
$3,849 CA$5,396
-13.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,114 SEK 30.0K
$2,948 CA$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.

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