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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,472 per month in Boden vs $2,106 in Malmo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,305 per month in Boden vs $3,222 in Malmo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,139 per month in Boden vs $4,338 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 10%, Malmo by 57%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.46 SEK 180
$13.61 SEK 126
42.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.66 SEK 395
$84.2 SEK 781
-49.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.72 SEK 99.4
$12.88 SEK 119
-16.77%
Cappuccino
$2.09 SEK 19.36
$5.01 SEK 46.40
-58.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 SEK 15.95
$2.74 SEK 25.36
-37.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 SEK 20.04
$2.12 SEK 19.68
1.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.37 SEK 49.77
$8.09 SEK 75.0
-33.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.49 SEK 69.5
$8.10 SEK 75.1
-7.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 SEK 13.03
$1.70 SEK 15.79
-17.06%
White Bread (500g)
$2.73 SEK 25.32
$3.11 SEK 28.79
-12.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.06 SEK 19.07
$3.62 SEK 33.56
-43.09%
Eggs
$2.70 SEK 25.07
$4.48 SEK 41.49
-39.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.28 SEK 48.97
$12.25 SEK 114
-56.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.35 SEK 58.9
$12.78 SEK 119
-50.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.39 SEK 59.3
$27.29 SEK 253
-76.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 SEK 24.73
$3.43 SEK 31.76
-22.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.60 SEK 24.14
$2.90 SEK 26.89
-10.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.57 SEK 23.81
$3.38 SEK 31.32
-23.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.48 SEK 41.52
$4.87 SEK 45.14
-8.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.61 SEK 14.88
$1.83 SEK 16.92
-12.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 SEK 9.89
$1.89 SEK 17.54
-43.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 SEK 11.62
$2.59 SEK 24.05
-51.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.68 SEK 24.81
$1.28 SEK 11.87
109.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.97 SEK 102
$7.95 SEK 73.7
37.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 SEK 101
$12.24 SEK 113
-11.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.09 SEK 37.89
$2.43 SEK 22.53
68.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 SEK 23.74
$2.78 SEK 25.76
-7.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Boden
Malmo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.63 SEK 24.36
$3.40 SEK 31.56
-22.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.3 SEK 680
$70.0 SEK 649
4.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.29 SEK 49.05
$6.61 SEK 61.3
-19.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 SEK 15.13
$2.64 SEK 24.49
-38.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$62.4 SEK 578
$57.1 SEK 530
9.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.35 SEK 21.74
$1.94 SEK 18.01
21.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K SEK 242.4K
$33.0K SEK 305.7K
-20.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K SEK 239.9K
$33.8K SEK 313.0K
-23.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$112 SEK 1,034
$157 SEK 1,456
-28.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.2 SEK 493
$30.03 SEK 278
77.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.6 SEK 488
$40.01 SEK 371
31.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.4 SEK 569
$39.47 SEK 366
55.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.44 SEK 227
$23.84 SEK 221
2.52%
Cinema Ticket
$13.19 SEK 122
$17.91 SEK 166
-26.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$78.6 SEK 729
$159 SEK 1,472
-50.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,146 SEK 38.4K
$4,807 SEK 44.6K
-13.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$131 SEK 1,214
$106 SEK 984
23.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.3 SEK 744
$44.76 SEK 415
79.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.5 SEK 894
$122 SEK 1,127
-20.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$246 SEK 2,282
$164 SEK 1,524
49.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boden
Malmo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$949 SEK 8,797
$927 SEK 8,591
2.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$259 SEK 2,399
$771 SEK 7,145
-66.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$731 SEK 6,778
$1,719 SEK 15.9K
-57.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$518 SEK 4,799
$1,342 SEK 12.4K
-61.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,348 SEK 40.3K
$4,420 SEK 41.0K
-1.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,033 SEK 28.1K
$3,390 SEK 31.4K
-10.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Boden
Malmo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,109 SEK 38.1K
$3,361 SEK 31.2K
22.26%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Malmo: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $949 in Boden versus $927 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 22% 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 $84.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $280 vs $413 – 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 $2,207 per month in Boden and $3,160 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 $1,472 in Boden and $2,106 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 5% 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 $1,472, than in Malmo at $2,106. 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