Moving to Sweden from Canada
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Canada to Sweden — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Canada to Sweden, you would find that Sweden is 2.2% more expensive than Canada overall. A CA$103,526 salary in Canada would need to be roughly SEK668,575 in Sweden to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Swedish.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Canada to Sweden.
What does your salary buy?
CA$103,526 → SEK668,575
To maintain the same standard of living in Sweden
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 14.1% more
Groceries
pay 3.1% more
Transportation
pay 44.2% more
Housing
pay 27.3% less
Childcare
pay 72.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 15.9% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Canada to Sweden, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Canada to Sweden.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Sweden generally does better on safety, though Canada leads in feel safe walking at night.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Canada generally does better on environment, though Sweden leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Canada generally does better on infrastructure, though Sweden leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Canada generally does better on employment & economy, though Sweden leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Sweden generally does better on family life, though Canada leads in life expectancy.
Data: Canada Revenue Agency, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Ottawa | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C) | 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/45°F (18°/7°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C) | 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Ottawa | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C) | 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) |
| Feb | 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C) | 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C) | 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) |
| Apr | 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C) | 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) |
| May | 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C) | 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) |
| Jun | 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C) | 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) |
| Jul | 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C) | 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) |
| Aug | 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C) | 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) |
| Sep | 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C) | 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) |
| Oct | 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C) | 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) |
| Nov | 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C) | 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) |
| Dec | 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C) | 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Service of Canada,
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Canada and Sweden. To live, work, or study long-term in Sweden, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Sweden's immigration authority.
Canada passport holder visiting Sweden
Visa Free
Sweden passport holder visiting Canada
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Sweden than Canada?
Yes — Sweden is on average about 4% cheaper than Canada. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Sweden?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly SEK167,144 in Sweden on a CA$103,526 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Sweden?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Sweden has 40.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Sweden safe for expats?
Sweden generally does better on safety, though Canada leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Sweden is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.3 in Canada. About 73% of people in Sweden feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Sweden compared to Canada?
Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sweden leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 71.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Sweden, compared to 25.0 in Canada. Sweden scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Canada: 91).
What's the weather like in Sweden compared to Canada?
The average high temperature in Stockholm is 52°F, compared to 52°F in Ottawa. Stockholm receives around 21.5 in of rainfall per year, while Ottawa gets 37.1 in.
What language do they speak in Sweden?
The official language in Sweden is Swedish. In Canada, the official languages are English and French.
