Cost of Living in Karlstad - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $999 (excluding rent), and $1,751 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $3,023 (excluding rent), and $3,686 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 SEK 150

$7.42 SEK 70.2

$21.12 SEK 200

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.4 SEK 646

$47.33 SEK 447

$179 SEK 1,690

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.03 SEK 104

$10.45 SEK 98.8

$13.62 SEK 129

Cappuccino

$4.81 SEK 45.42

$3.12 SEK 29.47

$5.62 SEK 53.2

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 SEK 24.69

$1.15 SEK 10.85

$3.13 SEK 29.55

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 SEK 20.25

$1.57 SEK 14.81

$3.03 SEK 28.68

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.15 SEK 77

$5.16 SEK 48.73

$9.19 SEK 86.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.28 SEK 78.3

$5.24 SEK 49.53

$11.54 SEK 109

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 SEK 13.31

$1.15 SEK 10.87

$3.13 SEK 29.62

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 SEK 26.89

$2.14 SEK 20.19

$4.6 SEK 43.44

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.92 SEK 37.03

$3.67 SEK 34.71

$5.07 SEK 47.96

Eggs

$4.63 SEK 43.8

$3.66 SEK 34.61

$6.21 SEK 58.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 SEK 114

$9.3 SEK 87.9

$13.69 SEK 129

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.77 SEK 130

$9.31 SEK 88

$17.59 SEK 166

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.84 SEK 159

$6.24 SEK 59

$52 SEK 492

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 SEK 29.53

$2.7 SEK 25.48

$4.31 SEK 40.73

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 SEK 24.12

$2.07 SEK 19.57

$4.14 SEK 39.15

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 SEK 30.91

$2.69 SEK 25.42

$4.84 SEK 45.74

Tomato (1kg)

$5.17 SEK 48.88

$2.68 SEK 25.3

$11.23 SEK 106

Potato (1kg)

$1.58 SEK 14.97

$1.03 SEK 9.7

$2.58 SEK 24.39

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 SEK 16.93

$1.5 SEK 14.14

$2.15 SEK 20.29

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.68 SEK 25.28

$1.59 SEK 15.02

$4.88 SEK 46.1

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.3 SEK 12.33

$1.06 SEK 10.04

$3.73 SEK 35.27

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.44 SEK 70.3

$6.38 SEK 60.3

$8.29 SEK 78.4

Wine (Bottle)

$9.9 SEK 93.6

$8.91 SEK 84.2

$17.81 SEK 168

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 SEK 17.13

$1.6 SEK 15.12

$3.2 SEK 30.24

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 SEK 15.9

$1.54 SEK 14.52

$3.07 SEK 29.03

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.32 SEK 31.39

$2.57 SEK 24.28

$3.43 SEK 32.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84 SEK 794

$78.3 SEK 740

$86.1 SEK 813

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.54 SEK 52.3

$8.2 SEK 77.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 SEK 13.38

$4.29 SEK 40.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$64.3 SEK 607

$73.4 SEK 694

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.94 SEK 18.35

$1.82 SEK 17.23

$2.19 SEK 20.7

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.3K SEK 305.1K

$40.2K SEK 380.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.1K SEK 322.3K

$38.2K SEK 361.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$105 SEK 989

$73 SEK 690

$155 SEK 1,466

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$28.67 SEK 271

$10.24 SEK 96.8

$51.5 SEK 487

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.68 SEK 413

$31.99 SEK 302

$56.2 SEK 531

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.83 SEK 433

$42.27 SEK 399

$52.8 SEK 499

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.43 SEK 165

$16.94 SEK 160

$25.4 SEK 240

Cinema Ticket

$14.4 SEK 136

$14.18 SEK 134

$23.1 SEK 218

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$145 SEK 1,374

$104 SEK 987

$172 SEK 1,628

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,161 SEK 29.9K

$531 SEK 5,021

$10.6K SEK 100.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89 SEK 841

$64.1 SEK 606

$117 SEK 1,110

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.62 SEK 393

$21.14 SEK 200

$52.9 SEK 500

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 SEK 757

$77.5 SEK 732

$124 SEK 1,173

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 SEK 1,397

$84.5 SEK 799

$211 SEK 1,997

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,055 SEK 9,969

$633 SEK 5,981

$1,055 SEK 9,969

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$586 SEK 5,540

$533 SEK 5,036

$853 SEK 8,058

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,212 SEK 11.5K

$1,142 SEK 10.8K

$1,350 SEK 12.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$883 SEK 8,342

$831 SEK 7,852

$1,246 SEK 11.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,187 SEK 30.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.8

4.5

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: December 2, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🇪🇺 Europe

Cost of Living in Karlstad - Frequently Asked Questions

Compared with Sweden's largest cities, Karlstad offers a grounded, slower pace with accessible housing, varied dining, and reliable public services. Cost of Living in Karlstad, Sweden feels manageable for a daily routine built around lake life, cafés, and outdoor activities. You’ll find flexible housing options from central apartments to quieter edge neighborhoods, a transit network that supports biking and bus travel, and a strong cafe and coworking scene that suits digital nomads. Budget-conscious travelers often appreciate seasonal markets, secondhand shopping, and affordable yet seasonal meals. Tip: plan your stay around cultural events to maximize value without sacrificing quality.

From a practical standpoint, housing in Karlstad runs from contemporary city-center flats to quieter, family-friendly streets near the river. For meals, you’ll find a mix of casual eateries, cafés, and markets offering fresh produce and seasonal options. Public transport is straightforward, with buses linking neighborhoods and a network that supports easy bike commutes in milder months. You’ll also notice walkable cores with coworking hubs close to shops and services, making errands efficient. Understanding Karlstad, Sweden living cost helps you pick neighborhoods that balance access and peace, while keeping daily routines flexible for work or study. Tip: align grocery runs with market days to stretch your budget.

Quality of life in Karlstad bridges outdoor access, cultural life, and a sensible pace. A simple budgeting framework works well: separate housing, daily needs, and discretionary spend, then set a quarterly review to adjust as seasons shift. Save by cooking at home, shopping at local markets, and choosing flexible, short-term coworking spaces rather than long leases. Seasonality affects activities – summer evenings by the lake feel lively; winter invites cozy cafés and indoor fitness. Neighborhood fit depends on your rhythm: central zones for easy amenities, riverside and campus-adjacent areas for a student or remote-work vibe. Tip: build a weekly routine that blends nature, work, and social time.