Cost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and BodenCost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and Boden
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $2,078 per month in Malmo vs $1,457 in Boden, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,236 per month in Malmo vs $2,286 in Boden, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,394 per month in Malmo vs $3,115 in Boden, rent included.
😐Malmo costs about 43% more than Boden, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Malmo and Boden sit above the global median – Malmo by 55%, Boden by 8%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Boden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.76SEK 129
$19.68SEK 185
-30.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.6SEK 803
$41.59SEK 390
105.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.87SEK 121
$10.51SEK 98.6
22.45%
Cappuccino
$4.94SEK 46.31
$2.16SEK 20.28
128.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74SEK 25.74
$1.66SEK 15.55
65.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17SEK 20.32
$2.13SEK 19.95
1.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.81SEK 73.2
$5.23SEK 49.02
49.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.93SEK 74.4
$7.22SEK 67.8
9.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Boden
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76SEK 16.55
$1.46SEK 13.71
20.55%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02SEK 28.35
$2.78SEK 26.05
8.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.61SEK 33.87
$2.09SEK 19.62
72.73%
Eggs
$4.47SEK 41.90
$2.59SEK 24.25
72.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.20SEK 114
$5.17SEK 48.45
135.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.69SEK 119
$6.37SEK 59.8
99.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.69SEK 250
$6.20SEK 58.2
330.48%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28SEK 30.77
$2.70SEK 25.33
21.48%
Banana(1kg)
$2.94SEK 27.56
$2.65SEK 24.87
10.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.25SEK 30.44
$2.66SEK 24.96
22.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.76SEK 44.62
$4.42SEK 41.45
7.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86SEK 17.48
$1.60SEK 15.05
16.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98SEK 18.59
$1.04SEK 9.72
90.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.58SEK 24.16
$1.23SEK 11.58
109.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29SEK 12.08
$2.65SEK 24.90
-51.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.89SEK 74.0
$10.78SEK 101
-26.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.92SEK 112
$10.50SEK 98.5
13.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49SEK 23.32
$3.92SEK 36.78
-36.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63SEK 24.66
$2.59SEK 24.28
1.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Boden
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.39SEK 31.80
$2.68SEK 25.13
26.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.3SEK 669
$72.8SEK 683
-2.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.55SEK 61.4
$5.14SEK 48.25
27.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.53SEK 23.71
$1.66SEK 15.61
52.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$57.3SEK 538
$62.0SEK 582
-7.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92SEK 18.02
$2.26SEK 21.19
-15.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8KSEK 308.1K
$25.8KSEK 242.5K
27.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5KSEK 314.2K
$26.0KSEK 243.8K
28.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Boden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$152SEK 1,428
$110SEK 1,028
38.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.08SEK 282
$51.9SEK 487
-42.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.52SEK 380
$52.0SEK 488
-22.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Boden
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.55SEK 362
$62.0SEK 581
-37.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.95SEK 225
$24.79SEK 233
-3.39%
Cinema Ticket
$18.09SEK 170
$13.00SEK 122
39.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Boden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$157SEK 1,477
$80.3SEK 753
96.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,974SEK 46.7K
$4,197SEK 39.4K
18.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Boden
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106SEK 990
$130SEK 1,216
-18.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.45SEK 426
$79.2SEK 743
-42.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122SEK 1,144
$97.3SEK 912
25.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165SEK 1,549
$250SEK 2,343
-33.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Boden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$896SEK 8,408
$949SEK 8,905
-5.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$792SEK 7,426
$265SEK 2,486
198.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,730SEK 16.2K
$731SEK 6,859
136.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,349SEK 12.7K
$537SEK 5,033
151.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,244SEK 39.8K
$4,891SEK 45.9K
-13.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,353SEK 31.5K
$2,779SEK 26.1K
20.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Boden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,254SEK 30.5K
$4,097SEK 38.4K
-20.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.86
4
21.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malmo: June 8, 2026
Last update for Boden: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $896 in Malmo versus $949 in Boden. 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 $86.0 in Malmo versus $42.00 in Boden. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $408 vs $279 – 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
Malmo vs Boden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boden cheaper than Malmo?
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 $3,118 per month in Malmo and $2,186 in Boden. 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 Malmo vs Boden?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,078 in Malmo and $1,457 in Boden. 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 Malmo or Boden?
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 Malmo or Boden 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, Malmo or Boden?
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.