🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,856 in Eskilstuna versus $2,093 in Malmo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,818 in Eskilstuna versus $3,234 in Malmo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,780 in Eskilstuna versus $4,376 in Malmo.
🌍Living in Eskilstuna costs roughly 11% less than in Malmo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Eskilstuna35% above, Malmo52% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eskilstuna
Malmo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.74SEK 141
$15.36SEK 146
-4.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.0SEK 658
$79.8SEK 761
-13.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.48SEK 99.9
$12.28SEK 117
-14.66%
Cappuccino
$4.65SEK 44.36
$4.87SEK 46.44
-4.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73SEK 26.00
$3.55SEK 33.85
-23.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27SEK 21.63
$2.84SEK 27.04
-20.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.41SEK 51.6
$9.09SEK 86.7
-40.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.21SEK 49.72
$9.34SEK 89.1
-44.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eskilstuna
Malmo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47SEK 13.98
$1.83SEK 17.48
-19.67%
White Bread(500g)
$3.30SEK 31.50
$3.00SEK 28.60
10.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.43SEK 32.67
$3.64SEK 34.71
-5.77%
Eggs
$4.27SEK 40.73
$4.18SEK 39.88
2.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.29SEK 136
$13.29SEK 127
7.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.18SEK 126
$12.35SEK 118
6.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.66SEK 130
$22.05SEK 210
-38.05%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36SEK 32.04
$3.12SEK 29.76
7.69%
Banana(1kg)
$2.79SEK 26.55
$2.57SEK 24.47
8.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.58SEK 24.60
$3.07SEK 29.28
-15.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.82SEK 36.40
$4.42SEK 42.19
-13.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55SEK 14.73
$1.76SEK 16.81
-11.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85SEK 17.66
$1.60SEK 15.23
15.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.25SEK 30.98
$2.64SEK 25.19
23.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78SEK 16.95
$1.29SEK 12.26
37.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.36SEK 70.2
$7.95SEK 75.8
-7.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.62SEK 82.2
$11.86SEK 113
-27.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02SEK 19.24
$2.14SEK 20.44
-5.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34SEK 22.33
$2.43SEK 23.16
-3.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Eskilstuna
Malmo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.41SEK 32.50
$3.27SEK 31.16
4.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.8SEK 656
$66.5SEK 634
3.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$13.82SEK 132
$6.29SEK 60.0
119.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05SEK 19.54
$2.50SEK 23.88
-18.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$84.1SEK 802
$52.8SEK 503
59.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77SEK 16.84
$1.81SEK 17.21
-2.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3KSEK 317.8K
$34.1KSEK 325.2K
-2.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8KSEK 321.9K
$35.1KSEK 335.0K
-3.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eskilstuna
Malmo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185SEK 1,768
$143SEK 1,362
29.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38SEK 261
$27.75SEK 265
-1.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.03SEK 391
$39.07SEK 372
5.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eskilstuna
Malmo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.77SEK 246
$45.75SEK 436
-43.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.10SEK 258
$30.43SEK 290
-10.94%
Cinema Ticket
$11.80SEK 112
$18.13SEK 173
-34.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eskilstuna
Malmo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$159SEK 1,513
$176SEK 1,675
-9.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,323SEK 50.7K
$3,485SEK 33.2K
52.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eskilstuna
Malmo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104SEK 992
$104SEK 990
0.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.65SEK 302
$46.39SEK 442
-31.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.6SEK 902
$119SEK 1,138
-20.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159SEK 1,513
$159SEK 1,520
-0.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eskilstuna
Malmo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$833SEK 7,943
$1,054SEK 10.1K
-20.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$633SEK 6,038
$845SEK 8,060
-25.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,233SEK 11.8K
$1,733SEK 16.5K
-28.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,078SEK 10.3K
$1,421SEK 13.5K
-24.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,245SEK 40.5K
$4,223SEK 40.3K
0.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,965SEK 28.3K
$3,338SEK 31.8K
-11.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eskilstuna
Malmo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,351SEK 41.5K
$3,200SEK 30.5K
35.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
3.02
5.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Eskilstuna: August 30, 2026
Last update for Malmo: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $833 in Eskilstuna and $1,054 in Malmo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Eskilstuna pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Eskilstuna vs $80.0 in Malmo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $366 vs $387 per month, with Eskilstuna cheaper across the board.
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
Eskilstuna vs Malmo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Eskilstuna or Malmo?
Eskilstuna wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Malmo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Eskilstuna the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Eskilstuna or in Malmo?
Average pay runs 36% higher in Eskilstuna, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Eskilstuna compared to Malmo?
Rent for a central apartment: $833 in Eskilstuna versus $1,054 in Malmo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Eskilstuna compared to Malmo?
All in, you'll spend $1,856 per month in Eskilstuna versus $2,093 in Malmo – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Eskilstuna compared to Malmo?
A monthly transit pass in Eskilstuna runs roughly 3% less than in Malmo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Eskilstuna or in Malmo?
At $1,856 in Eskilstuna versus $2,093 in Malmo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Eskilstuna but tight or insufficient in Malmo. The gap between the two cities makes Eskilstuna the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Eskilstuna or Malmo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Eskilstuna delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,856 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Eskilstuna hard to pass up.
How safe is Eskilstuna compared to Malmo?
Safety-wise, Eskilstuna and Malmo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Eskilstuna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Malmo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Eskilstuna vs other spots: cost of living compared