Cost of Living in Karlstad - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,088 (excluding rent), and $1,795 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,503 (excluding rent), and $3,603 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.70 SEK 145

$7.32 SEK 67.6

$20.83 SEK 192

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.6 SEK 624

$46.82 SEK 432

$177 SEK 1,633

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.11 SEK 103

$10.53 SEK 97.2

$13.72 SEK 127

Cappuccino

$4.90 SEK 45.22

$3.18 SEK 29.34

$5.73 SEK 52.9

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

$2.69 SEK 24.82

$1.18 SEK 10.91

$3.22 SEK 29.71

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 SEK 20.46

$1.62 SEK 14.97

$3.14 SEK 28.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.23 SEK 76.0

$5.21 SEK 48.05

$9.28 SEK 85.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.51 SEK 78.5

$5.38 SEK 49.67

$11.85 SEK 109

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 SEK 12.77

$1.13 SEK 10.43

$3.08 SEK 28.42

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 SEK 25.65

$2.09 SEK 19.26

$4.49 SEK 41.43

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.92 SEK 36.15

$3.67 SEK 33.89

$5.07 SEK 46.82

Eggs

$4.70 SEK 43.37

$3.71 SEK 34.27

$6.30 SEK 58.2

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.26 SEK 113

$9.49 SEK 87.6

$13.96 SEK 129

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.28 SEK 132

$9.66 SEK 89.2

$18.25 SEK 168

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.82 SEK 155

$6.24 SEK 57.6

$52.0 SEK 480

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 SEK 27.59

$2.58 SEK 23.80

$4.12 SEK 38.05

Banana (1kg)

$2.66 SEK 24.57

$2.16 SEK 19.94

$4.32 SEK 39.87

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 SEK 29.47

$2.63 SEK 24.24

$4.73 SEK 43.62

Tomato (1kg)

$5.20 SEK 47.99

$2.69 SEK 24.84

$11.29 SEK 104

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 SEK 15.12

$1.06 SEK 9.80

$2.67 SEK 24.64

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 SEK 16.55

$1.50 SEK 13.82

$2.15 SEK 19.84

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.68 SEK 24.73

$1.59 SEK 14.69

$4.88 SEK 45.08

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 SEK 12.02

$1.06 SEK 9.78

$3.73 SEK 34.39

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.34 SEK 67.8

$6.30 SEK 58.1

$8.19 SEK 75.6

Wine (Bottle)

$10.45 SEK 96.4

$9.10 SEK 84.0

$12.86 SEK 119

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 SEK 16.36

$1.56 SEK 14.44

$3.13 SEK 28.88

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 SEK 15.71

$1.55 SEK 14.34

$3.11 SEK 28.69

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.25 SEK 29.98

$2.51 SEK 23.20

$3.36 SEK 30.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.4 SEK 788

$79.6 SEK 735

$87.5 SEK 808

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.79 SEK 53.4

$8.57 SEK 79.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 SEK 12.63

$4.14 SEK 38.26

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$63.6 SEK 587

$72.6 SEK 670

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.92 SEK 17.70

$1.80 SEK 16.62

$2.16 SEK 19.96

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

$32.2K SEK 297.4K

$40.1K SEK 370.5K

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

$34.3K SEK 316.7K

$38.5K SEK 354.9K

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

$104 SEK 964

$72.8 SEK 672

$155 SEK 1,428

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

$29.05 SEK 268

$10.38 SEK 95.8

$52.2 SEK 482

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.38 SEK 400

$31.77 SEK 293

$55.8 SEK 515

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.12 SEK 426

$42.54 SEK 393

$53.2 SEK 491

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.03 SEK 157

$16.55 SEK 153

$24.82 SEK 229

Cinema Ticket

$14.70 SEK 136

$14.47 SEK 134

$23.57 SEK 218

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

$147 SEK 1,356

$106 SEK 974

$174 SEK 1,607

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,146 SEK 29.0K

$529 SEK 4,880

$10.6K SEK 97.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.7 SEK 810

$63.2 SEK 583

$116 SEK 1,068

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.96 SEK 378

$20.80 SEK 192

$52.0 SEK 480

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 SEK 748

$78.4 SEK 723

$126 SEK 1,159

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 SEK 1,369

$84.8 SEK 783

$212 SEK 1,957

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,057 SEK 9,753

$634 SEK 5,852

$1,057 SEK 9,753

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$573 SEK 5,285

$521 SEK 4,805

$833 SEK 7,688

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,242 SEK 11.5K

$1,171 SEK 10.8K

$1,384 SEK 12.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$898 SEK 8,286

$845 SEK 7,799

$1,267 SEK 11.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,298 SEK 30.4K

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: January 13, 2026

Karlstad Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

113

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

197

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

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.