Cost of Living Comparison Between Boden and Malmo Cost of Living Comparison Between Boden and Malmo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,485 per month in Boden vs $2,083 in Malmo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,309 per month in Boden vs $3,191 in Malmo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,133 per month in Boden vs $4,299 in Malmo, rent included.

Boden is about 29% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Boden and Malmo sit above the global median – Boden by 12%, Malmo by 57%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.89 SEK 189
$13.51 SEK 128
47.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.81 SEK 407
$82.8 SEK 787
-48.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.46 SEK 99.4
$12.55 SEK 119
-16.65%
Cappuccino
$2.07 SEK 19.64
$4.90 SEK 46.51
-57.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 SEK 16.18
$2.71 SEK 25.78
-37.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 SEK 19.86
$2.08 SEK 19.78
0.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.12 SEK 48.65
$8.03 SEK 76.3
-36.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.28 SEK 69.1
$8.09 SEK 76.9
-10.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 SEK 13.69
$1.68 SEK 15.98
-14.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 SEK 27.49
$3.06 SEK 29.07
-5.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.06 SEK 19.56
$3.50 SEK 33.22
-41.14%
Eggs
$2.58 SEK 24.51
$4.44 SEK 42.22
-41.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.33 SEK 50.7
$12.02 SEK 114
-55.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.49 SEK 61.7
$12.88 SEK 122
-49.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.48 SEK 61.6
$27.59 SEK 262
-76.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 SEK 25.37
$3.29 SEK 31.29
-18.84%
Banana (1kg)
$2.70 SEK 25.66
$2.94 SEK 27.90
-8.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.68 SEK 25.49
$3.39 SEK 32.16
-20.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.56 SEK 43.30
$4.97 SEK 47.21
-8.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 SEK 15.24
$1.83 SEK 17.35
-12.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 SEK 9.71
$1.99 SEK 18.86
-48.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.28 SEK 12.16
$2.49 SEK 23.62
-48.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 SEK 25.63
$1.34 SEK 12.69
101.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.82 SEK 103
$7.84 SEK 74.5
38.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.38 SEK 98.6
$11.58 SEK 110
-10.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.08 SEK 38.76
$2.48 SEK 23.59
64.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 SEK 25.79
$2.66 SEK 25.25
1.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Boden
Malmo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.67 SEK 25.37
$3.29 SEK 31.22
-18.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.1 SEK 695
$71.2 SEK 676
2.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.19 SEK 49.28
$6.47 SEK 61.4
-19.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 SEK 15.84
$2.64 SEK 25.09
-36.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$63.2 SEK 601
$56.7 SEK 539
11.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.29 SEK 21.79
$1.92 SEK 18.27
19.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K SEK 247.9K
$32.7K SEK 310.6K
-20.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K SEK 245.8K
$33.8K SEK 321.0K
-23.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 SEK 1,039
$156 SEK 1,478
-29.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.6 SEK 509
$30.25 SEK 287
77.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.8 SEK 511
$40.72 SEK 387
32.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 SEK 580
$38.68 SEK 367
57.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.78 SEK 235
$23.36 SEK 222
6.08%
Cinema Ticket
$13.32 SEK 127
$18.05 SEK 171
-26.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$80.5 SEK 765
$159 SEK 1,515
-49.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,061 SEK 38.6K
$4,792 SEK 45.5K
-15.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$130 SEK 1,232
$105 SEK 1,001
23.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$78.7 SEK 748
$44.78 SEK 425
75.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.3 SEK 934
$123 SEK 1,169
-20.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$247 SEK 2,342
$166 SEK 1,574
48.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boden
Malmo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 SEK 9,039
$931 SEK 8,849
2.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$262 SEK 2,491
$796 SEK 7,557
-67.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$731 SEK 6,941
$1,690 SEK 16.1K
-56.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 SEK 4,950
$1,368 SEK 13.0K
-61.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,645 SEK 44.1K
$4,150 SEK 39.4K
11.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,135 SEK 29.8K
$3,245 SEK 30.8K
-3.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,964 SEK 37.7K
$3,144 SEK 29.9K
26.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
4.86
-17.70%

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

Last update for Boden: July 25, 2026

Last update for Malmo: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Boden versus $931 in Malmo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 26% higher in Boden, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Boden versus $83.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $411 – making Boden the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Boden vs Malmo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Malmo cheaper than Boden?
Yes – Malmo is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,228 per month in Boden and $3,125 in Malmo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Boden, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Boden and in Malmo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,485 in Boden and $2,083 in Malmo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 3% less in Boden. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Boden or in Malmo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Boden, where all-in costs run around $1,485, than in Malmo at $2,083. In Boden it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malmo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Boden or Malmo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Boden – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Boden or Malmo?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Boden. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Malmo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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