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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,773 per month in Boden vs $2,083 in Malmo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,792 per month in Boden vs $3,221 in Malmo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,810 per month in Boden vs $4,359 in Malmo, rent included.

Boden is about 15% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Boden and Malmo sit above the global median – Boden by 30%, Malmo by 52%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.17 SEK 189
$15.40 SEK 152
24.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.9 SEK 778
$76.7 SEK 756
2.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.08 SEK 99.3
$12.22 SEK 120
-17.51%
Cappuccino
$4.62 SEK 45.50
$5.10 SEK 50.3
-9.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 SEK 16.51
$3.37 SEK 33.24
-50.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 SEK 21.59
$2.68 SEK 26.37
-18.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.03 SEK 69.3
$8.97 SEK 88.4
-21.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.85 SEK 67.5
$8.97 SEK 88.4
-23.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 SEK 15.33
$1.75 SEK 17.24
-10.86%
White Bread (500g)
$3.13 SEK 30.80
$3.03 SEK 29.88
3.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.85 SEK 37.97
$3.58 SEK 35.27
7.54%
Eggs
$4.50 SEK 44.36
$4.23 SEK 41.71
6.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.54 SEK 124
$13.07 SEK 129
-4.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.03 SEK 119
$12.22 SEK 120
-1.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.65 SEK 174
$22.01 SEK 217
-19.81%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 SEK 30.62
$3.05 SEK 30.04
1.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.67 SEK 26.30
$2.62 SEK 25.85
1.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.18 SEK 31.35
$3.18 SEK 31.30
-
Tomato (1kg)
$4.08 SEK 40.24
$4.44 SEK 43.75
-8.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 SEK 15.41
$1.74 SEK 17.14
-10.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 SEK 16.48
$1.52 SEK 14.99
9.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 SEK 22.55
$2.48 SEK 24.46
-7.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 SEK 14.81
$1.31 SEK 12.89
14.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.45 SEK 103
$7.79 SEK 76.7
34.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.10 SEK 99.5
$11.80 SEK 116
-14.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 SEK 19.75
$2.00 SEK 19.72
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 SEK 22.97
$2.32 SEK 22.85
0.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Boden
Malmo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.34 SEK 32.87
$3.20 SEK 31.49
4.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.3 SEK 830
$64.5 SEK 636
30.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.12 SEK 60.3
$6.42 SEK 63.3
-4.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 SEK 17.24
$2.44 SEK 24.00
-28.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$53.9 SEK 531
$51.8 SEK 510
4.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.07 SEK 20.40
$1.76 SEK 17.33
17.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K SEK 251.3K
$33.2K SEK 327.4K
-23.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2K SEK 336.7K
$33.7K SEK 332.3K
1.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 SEK 1,059
$140 SEK 1,384
-23.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.50 SEK 261
$26.87 SEK 265
-1.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.45 SEK 389
$37.50 SEK 370
5.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.1 SEK 583
$43.40 SEK 428
36.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.32 SEK 200
$29.75 SEK 293
-31.70%
Cinema Ticket
$12.66 SEK 125
$17.63 SEK 174
-28.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$160 SEK 1,578
$172 SEK 1,695
-6.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 SEK 51.6K
$3,416 SEK 33.7K
53.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.5 SEK 902
$103 SEK 1,012
-10.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 SEK 415
$46.61 SEK 459
-9.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 SEK 943
$114 SEK 1,120
-15.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 SEK 1,378
$156 SEK 1,542
-10.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boden
Malmo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$918 SEK 9,045
$1,044 SEK 10.3K
-12.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$603 SEK 5,940
$816 SEK 8,044
-26.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,392 SEK 13.7K
$1,750 SEK 17.2K
-20.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 SEK 10.2K
$1,377 SEK 13.6K
-24.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,383 SEK 43.2K
$4,211 SEK 41.5K
4.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,192 SEK 31.5K
$3,287 SEK 32.4K
-2.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,949 SEK 38.9K
$3,113 SEK 30.7K
26.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.4
3.02
12.58%

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

Last update for Boden: September 12, 2026

Last update for Malmo: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $918 in Boden versus $1,044 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 27% 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 $79.0 in Boden versus $77.0 in Malmo. Groceries tell a different story – $366 in Boden vs $383 in Malmo – so Boden wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 17%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $2,660 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 $1,773 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 31% less in Boden. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Boden or in Malmo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Boden, where all-in costs run around $1,773, 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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