Cost of Living Comparison Between Boden and MalmoCost of Living Comparison Between Boden and Malmo
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,457 per month in Boden vs $2,078 in Malmo, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Boden vs $3,236 in Malmo, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,115 per month in Boden vs $4,394 in Malmo, rent included.
🙂Boden is about 30% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Boden and Malmo sit above the global median – Boden by 8%, Malmo by 55%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.68SEK 185
$13.76SEK 129
43.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.59SEK 390
$85.6SEK 803
-51.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51SEK 98.6
$12.87SEK 121
-18.34%
Cappuccino
$2.16SEK 20.28
$4.94SEK 46.31
-56.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66SEK 15.55
$2.74SEK 25.74
-39.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13SEK 19.95
$2.17SEK 20.32
-1.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.23SEK 49.02
$7.81SEK 73.2
-33.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.22SEK 67.8
$7.93SEK 74.4
-8.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46SEK 13.71
$1.76SEK 16.55
-17.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.78SEK 26.05
$3.02SEK 28.35
-7.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.09SEK 19.62
$3.61SEK 33.87
-42.11%
Eggs
$2.59SEK 24.25
$4.47SEK 41.90
-42.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.17SEK 48.45
$12.20SEK 114
-57.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.37SEK 59.8
$12.69SEK 119
-49.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.20SEK 58.2
$26.69SEK 250
-76.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70SEK 25.33
$3.28SEK 30.77
-17.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.65SEK 24.87
$2.94SEK 27.56
-9.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.66SEK 24.96
$3.25SEK 30.44
-18.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.42SEK 41.45
$4.76SEK 44.62
-7.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60SEK 15.05
$1.86SEK 17.48
-13.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04SEK 9.72
$1.98SEK 18.59
-47.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23SEK 11.58
$2.58SEK 24.16
-52.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.65SEK 24.90
$1.29SEK 12.08
105.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.78SEK 101
$7.89SEK 74.0
36.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.50SEK 98.5
$11.92SEK 112
-11.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.92SEK 36.78
$2.49SEK 23.32
57.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59SEK 24.28
$2.63SEK 24.66
-1.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Boden
Malmo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.68SEK 25.13
$3.39SEK 31.80
-20.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.8SEK 683
$71.3SEK 669
2.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.14SEK 48.25
$6.55SEK 61.4
-21.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66SEK 15.61
$2.53SEK 23.71
-34.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.0SEK 582
$57.3SEK 538
8.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.26SEK 21.19
$1.92SEK 18.02
17.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8KSEK 242.5K
$32.8KSEK 308.1K
-21.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0KSEK 243.8K
$33.5KSEK 314.2K
-22.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110SEK 1,028
$152SEK 1,428
-28.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.9SEK 487
$30.08SEK 282
72.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.0SEK 488
$40.52SEK 380
28.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.0SEK 581
$38.55SEK 362
60.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.79SEK 233
$23.95SEK 225
3.51%
Cinema Ticket
$13.00SEK 122
$18.09SEK 170
-28.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$80.3SEK 753
$157SEK 1,477
-48.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,197SEK 39.4K
$4,974SEK 46.7K
-15.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$130SEK 1,216
$106SEK 990
22.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$79.2SEK 743
$45.45SEK 426
74.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.3SEK 912
$122SEK 1,144
-20.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$250SEK 2,343
$165SEK 1,549
51.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boden
Malmo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$949SEK 8,905
$896SEK 8,408
5.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$265SEK 2,486
$792SEK 7,426
-66.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$731SEK 6,859
$1,730SEK 16.2K
-57.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$537SEK 5,033
$1,349SEK 12.7K
-60.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,891SEK 45.9K
$4,244SEK 39.8K
15.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,779SEK 26.1K
$3,353SEK 31.5K
-17.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,097SEK 38.4K
$3,254SEK 30.5K
25.92%
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Malmo: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $949 in Boden versus $896 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 $42.00 in Boden versus $86.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $279 vs $408 – 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 43%, 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 $2,186 per month in Boden and $3,118 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 vs Malmo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,457 in Boden and $2,078 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 2% less in Boden. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Boden or Malmo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Boden, where all-in costs run around $1,457, than in Malmo at $2,078. 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.