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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Boden vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities