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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,823 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
$14.88 SEK 146
$17.71 CA$24.77
-15.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.7 SEK 792
$71.1 CA$99.4
13.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.18 SEK 110
$10.90 CA$15.25
2.57%
Cappuccino
$4.70 SEK 46.13
$3.82 CA$5.34
23.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 SEK 28.09
$2.12 CA$2.97
34.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 SEK 23.10
$1.75 CA$2.45
34.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.98 SEK 78.4
$5.77 CA$8.07
38.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.65 SEK 75.1
$5.72 CA$8.00
33.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 SEK 16.22
$2.27 CA$3.18
-27.31%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 SEK 28.88
$2.60 CA$3.63
13.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.56 SEK 34.96
$3.57 CA$4.99
-0.28%
Eggs
$4.24 SEK 41.66
$3.64 CA$5.09
16.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.81 SEK 116
$11.03 CA$15.43
7.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.05 SEK 118
$12.02 CA$16.82
0.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 SEK 190
$15.70 CA$21.97
23.18%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 SEK 31.02
$4.18 CA$5.84
-24.40%
Banana (1kg)
$2.60 SEK 25.57
$1.40 CA$1.96
85.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.08 SEK 30.30
$3.80 CA$5.31
-18.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.54 SEK 44.62
$3.98 CA$5.57
14.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 SEK 17.63
$2.65 CA$3.71
-32.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 SEK 16.01
$2.54 CA$3.55
-35.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 SEK 23.00
$2.64 CA$3.70
-11.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 SEK 13.91
$1.79 CA$2.50
-20.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.89 SEK 77.6
$14.23 CA$19.91
-44.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.26 SEK 111
$13.22 CA$18.50
-14.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 SEK 19.99
$2.98 CA$4.17
-31.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 SEK 21.51
$3.20 CA$4.48
-31.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Sweden
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.68 SEK 36.16
$2.47 CA$3.45
48.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.7 SEK 881
$73.5 CA$103
22.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.12 SEK 60.1
$3.26 CA$4.56
87.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.97 SEK 19.40
$1.54 CA$2.15
27.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.8 SEK 607
$27.66 CA$38.69
123.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 SEK 18.58
$1.20 CA$1.67
57.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K SEK 329.5K
$28.0K CA$39.1K
19.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2K SEK 336.4K
$19.4K CA$27.1K
76.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 SEK 1,291
$151 CA$212
-13.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.19 SEK 267
$43.37 CA$60.7
-37.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.82 SEK 381
$59.8 CA$83.6
-35.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.38 SEK 397
$40.88 CA$57.2
-1.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.49 SEK 270
$19.81 CA$27.72
38.77%
Cinema Ticket
$16.32 SEK 160
$11.39 CA$15.94
43.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$155 SEK 1,526
$783 CA$1,095
-80.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,705 SEK 46.2K
$14.6K CA$20.5K
-67.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.6 SEK 930
$55.1 CA$77.1
71.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.36 SEK 416
$39.66 CA$55.5
6.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 SEK 1,002
$89.3 CA$125
14.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 SEK 1,442
$103 CA$145
41.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sweden
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$863 SEK 8,483
$1,299 CA$1,817
-33.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$694 SEK 6,821
$1,157 CA$1,618
-39.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,434 SEK 14.1K
$2,025 CA$2,833
-29.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,155 SEK 11.3K
$1,779 CA$2,489
-35.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,217 SEK 51.3K
$4,679 CA$6,546
11.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,320 SEK 32.6K
$3,883 CA$5,433
-14.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sweden
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,033 SEK 29.8K
$3,043 CA$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.

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