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