Cost of Living Comparison Between Lund and Malmo Cost of Living Comparison Between Lund and Malmo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,904 in Lund versus $2,081 in Malmo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,030 in Lund versus $3,224 in Malmo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,156 in Lund versus $4,368 in Malmo.

Living in Lund costs roughly 8% less than in Malmo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lund 43% above, Malmo 56% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lund
Malmo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.55 SEK 121
$13.74 SEK 133
-8.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.3 SEK 825
$83.5 SEK 807
2.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.20 SEK 118
$12.74 SEK 123
-4.24%
Cappuccino
$4.85 SEK 46.92
$5.15 SEK 49.73
-5.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 SEK 27.13
$2.68 SEK 25.92
4.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 SEK 19.79
$2.10 SEK 20.29
-2.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.22 SEK 79.5
$7.81 SEK 75.5
5.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.32 SEK 70.8
$8.01 SEK 77.4
-8.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lund
Malmo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 SEK 15.43
$1.73 SEK 16.76
-7.51%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 SEK 21.34
$3.08 SEK 29.73
-28.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.02 SEK 29.15
$3.48 SEK 33.67
-13.22%
Eggs
$4.55 SEK 44.02
$4.53 SEK 43.80
0.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.12 SEK 127
$12.41 SEK 120
5.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.78 SEK 114
$13.01 SEK 126
-9.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.28 SEK 167
$26.83 SEK 259
-35.59%
Apples (1kg)
$3.18 SEK 30.70
$3.40 SEK 32.84
-6.47%
Banana (1kg)
$2.77 SEK 26.81
$2.94 SEK 28.43
-5.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.77 SEK 26.75
$3.29 SEK 31.83
-15.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.55 SEK 43.94
$4.83 SEK 46.69
-5.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 SEK 16.01
$1.87 SEK 18.10
-11.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 SEK 15.25
$1.94 SEK 18.76
-18.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.60 SEK 25.14
$2.55 SEK 24.68
1.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 SEK 12.29
$1.34 SEK 13.00
-5.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.18 SEK 79.1
$7.88 SEK 76.2
3.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.23 SEK 109
$11.67 SEK 113
-3.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 SEK 18.98
$2.40 SEK 23.25
-18.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 SEK 21.64
$2.73 SEK 26.39
-17.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Lund
Malmo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.34 SEK 32.33
$3.46 SEK 33.40
-3.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.4 SEK 652
$71.0 SEK 686
-5.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.40 SEK 52.3
$6.76 SEK 65.3
-20.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 SEK 18.21
$2.64 SEK 25.49
-28.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$63.0 SEK 609
$57.1 SEK 552
10.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 SEK 18.40
$1.90 SEK 18.41
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K SEK 316.0K
$33.0K SEK 318.6K
-0.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K SEK 329.9K
$33.9K SEK 328.1K
0.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lund
Malmo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 SEK 1,179
$155 SEK 1,496
-21.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.99 SEK 280
$29.60 SEK 286
-2.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.22 SEK 398
$39.55 SEK 382
4.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lund
Malmo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.68 SEK 374
$39.29 SEK 380
-1.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.09 SEK 233
$23.47 SEK 227
2.64%
Cinema Ticket
$18.17 SEK 176
$17.81 SEK 172
2.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lund
Malmo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$179 SEK 1,730
$157 SEK 1,520
13.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,129 SEK 39.9K
$4,884 SEK 47.2K
-15.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lund
Malmo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.3 SEK 776
$105 SEK 1,013
-23.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.1 SEK 581
$45.70 SEK 442
31.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 SEK 1,002
$124 SEK 1,199
-16.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 SEK 1,259
$166 SEK 1,607
-21.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lund
Malmo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$981 SEK 9,483
$916 SEK 8,856
7.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$763 SEK 7,371
$791 SEK 7,642
-3.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 SEK 15.6K
$1,702 SEK 16.4K
-5.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,307 SEK 12.6K
$1,378 SEK 13.3K
-5.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,408 SEK 61.9K
$4,179 SEK 40.4K
53.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,682 SEK 35.6K
$3,318 SEK 32.1K
10.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lund
Malmo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,972 SEK 28.7K
$3,148 SEK 30.4K
-5.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
4.86
-1.23%

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

Last update for Lund: July 13, 2026

Last update for Malmo: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $981 in Lund and $916 in Malmo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Malmo pays 6% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Lund vs $83.0 in Malmo. Groceries flip the comparison at $355 vs $412, with Lund cheaper for home cooking.

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
Lund vs Malmo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lund or Malmo?
Lund wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Malmo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lund the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lund or in Malmo?
On paper, salaries run 6% lower in Malmo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lund compared to Malmo?
Rent for a central apartment: $981 in Lund versus $916 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 Lund compared to Malmo?
All in, you'll spend $1,904 per month in Lund versus $2,081 in Malmo – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Lund compared to Malmo?
A monthly transit pass in Lund runs roughly 5% 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 Lund or in Malmo?
At $1,904 in Lund versus $2,081 in Malmo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lund but tight or insufficient in Malmo. The gap between the two cities makes Lund the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lund or Malmo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lund delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,904 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lund hard to pass up.
How safe is Lund compared to Malmo?
Safety-wise, Lund 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 Lund gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Malmo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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