Moving to Canada from Denmark

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Denmark to Canada — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Denmark to Canada, you would find that Canada is 11.2% cheaper than Denmark overall. A DKK491,173 salary in Denmark would need to be roughly CA$88,639 in Canada to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and French.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Denmark to Canada.

What does your salary buy?

DKK491,173 CA$88,639

To maintain the same standard of living in Canada

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 36.2% less

Groceries

pay 6.1% less

Transportation

pay 40.3% less

Housing

pay 17.6% more

Childcare

pay 31.8% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 15.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 DKK = 0.2164 CAD (July 2026)

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 Denmark to Canada, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
70 ↑ 17% vs 2022

people moved from Denmark to Canada · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Canada?

Top countries of origin for Canada's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Denmark to Canada.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

DK
1.0
CA
2.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

DK
2.3
CA
4.7

Denmark performs better than Canada across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

DK
$7,262
CA
$7,646
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

DK
43.8
CA
25.0

Denmark generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

DK
13.0
CA
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

DK
4.3t
CA
14.0t

Denmark generally does better on environment, though Canada leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

DK
45.0
CA
42.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

DK
26.4%
CA
3.7%

Denmark generally does better on infrastructure, though Canada leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

DK
5.1%
CA
5.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

DK
$72,000
CA
$55,800

Denmark generally does better on employment & economy, though Canada leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

DK
81.7 yrs
CA
83.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

DK
3.0
CA
4.4

Denmark generally does better on family life, though Canada leads in life expectancy.

Data: Danish Central Tax Administration, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Copenhagen Rain: 20.7 in/yr (525 mm)
52° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Ottawa Rain: 37.1 in/yr (943 mm)
52° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Copenhagen Ottawa
Jan–Mar 38°/29°F (3°/-2°C) 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C)
Apr–Jun 58°/44°F (15°/7°C) 64°/45°F (18°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 66°/53°F (19°/12°C) 75°/55°F (24°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 46°/37°F (8°/3°C) 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C)
View all months
Month Copenhagen Ottawa
Jan 36°/28°F (2.0°/-2.0°C) 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C)
Feb 36°/28°F (2.0°/-2.0°C) 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C)
Mar 41°/30°F (5.0°/-1.0°C) 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C)
Apr 50°/36°F (10.0°/2.0°C) 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C)
May 59°/45°F (15.0°/7.0°C) 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C)
Jun 66°/52°F (19.0°/11.0°C) 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C)
Jul 68°/55°F (20.0°/13.0°C) 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C)
Aug 68°/55°F (20.0°/13.0°C) 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C)
Sep 63°/50°F (17.0°/10.0°C) 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C)
Oct 54°/45°F (12.0°/7.0°C) 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C)
Nov 45°/37°F (7.0°/3.0°C) 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C)
Dec 39°/30°F (4.0°/-1.0°C) 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C)

Data: Danish Meteorological Institute Danish Meteorological Institute, Meteorological Service of Canada Meteorological Service of Canada

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Denmark and Canada. To live, work, or study long-term in Canada, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Canada's immigration authority.

Denmark passport

Denmark passport holder visiting Canada

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Denmark passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Canada.
Canada passport

Canada passport holder visiting Denmark

Visa Free
Canada passport holders can enter Denmark without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Canada than Denmark?

Yes — Canada is on average about 17% cheaper than Denmark. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Canada?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly CA$22,160 in Canada on a DKK491,173 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Canada?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Canada has 42.6 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 Canada safe for expats?

Denmark performs better than Canada across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Canada is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in Denmark.

How is healthcare in Canada compared to Denmark?

Denmark generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in health coverage index. There are 25.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Canada, compared to 43.8 in Denmark. Canada scores 91 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Denmark: 82).

What's the weather like in Canada compared to Denmark?

The average high temperature in Ottawa is 52°F, compared to 52°F in Copenhagen. Ottawa receives around 37.1 in of rainfall per year, while Copenhagen gets 20.7 in.

What language do they speak in Canada?

The official languages in Canada are English and French. In Denmark, the official language is Danish.

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At a Glance

DK CA
Population 5,920,767 38,232,593
Currency Danish Krone (DKK) Canadian Dollar (CA$)
Languages Danish English, French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +45 +1
Time zones 5 6
Emergency number 112 911