Cost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and Boras Cost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and Boras

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,148 in Malmo versus $1,955 in Boras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,268 in Malmo versus $2,309 in Boras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,388 in Malmo versus $2,663 in Boras.

Living in Malmo is roughly 10% more expensive than in Boras, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Malmo 56% above, Boras 42% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.41 SEK 149

$13.41 SEK 130

14.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 SEK 775

$91.9 SEK 891

-12.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 SEK 119

$10.37 SEK 101

18.80%

Cappuccino

$4.96 SEK 48.04

$4.35 SEK 42.15

14.02%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 SEK 34.54

$2.17 SEK 21.08

64.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 SEK 26.04

$2.11 SEK 20.47

27.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.81 SEK 85.5

$7.20 SEK 69.8

22.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.21 SEK 89.3

$7.09 SEK 68.7

29.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 SEK 16.88

$1.74 SEK 16.86

White Bread (500g)

$2.92 SEK 28.32

$2.85 SEK 27.60

2.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.63 SEK 35.15

$3.09 SEK 29.95

17.48%

Eggs

$4.29 SEK 41.58

$4.59 SEK 44.52

-6.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.32 SEK 129

$12.58 SEK 122

5.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.65 SEK 123

$12.08 SEK 117

4.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.12 SEK 214

$17.49 SEK 170

26.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 SEK 31.10

$3.14 SEK 30.41

2.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.71 SEK 26.29

$2.78 SEK 26.96

-2.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.05 SEK 29.57

$2.93 SEK 28.37

4.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.50 SEK 43.58

$3.73 SEK 36.13

20.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 SEK 17.22

$1.52 SEK 14.71

17.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.60 SEK 15.55

$1.48 SEK 14.35

8.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 SEK 25.92

$2.36 SEK 22.86

13.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 SEK 12.29

$1.45 SEK 14.04

-12.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.06 SEK 78.2

$7.03 SEK 68.1

14.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.80 SEK 114

$8.48 SEK 82.2

39.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 SEK 20.05

$1.84 SEK 17.79

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 SEK 23.74

$1.71 SEK 16.56

43.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.28 SEK 31.84

$3.79 SEK 36.78

-13.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.8 SEK 628

$81.7 SEK 792

-20.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.53 SEK 63.3

$5.09 SEK 49.38

28.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.60 SEK 25.24

$1.13 SEK 10.93

130.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$52.1 SEK 505

$43.04 SEK 417

21.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.85 SEK 17.95

$1.87 SEK 18.08

-1.07%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.1K SEK 331.0K

$26.2K SEK 253.8K

30.41%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.4K SEK 333.6K

$15.5K SEK 150.7K

121.39%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$144 SEK 1,400

$62.4 SEK 604

131.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.41 SEK 266

$31.71 SEK 307

-13.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.23 SEK 371

$41.22 SEK 400

-7.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.31 SEK 420

$36.00 SEK 349

20.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.14 SEK 292

$26.08 SEK 253

15.57%

Cinema Ticket

$17.87 SEK 173

$15.44 SEK 150

15.74%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$180 SEK 1,742

$166 SEK 1,605

8.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,500 SEK 33.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 SEK 1,011

$52.3 SEK 507

99.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.40 SEK 450

$51.6 SEK 501

-10.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 SEK 1,127

$83.3 SEK 807

39.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 SEK 1,547

$102 SEK 991

56.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,046 SEK 10.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$822 SEK 7,968

$902 SEK 8,740

-8.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,782 SEK 17.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 SEK 13.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,132 SEK 40.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,338 SEK 32.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,184 SEK 30.9K

$2,469 SEK 23.9K

28.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.02

4.8

-37.08%

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

Last update for Malmo: September 7, 2026

Last update for Boras: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Malmo pays 29% 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: $80.0 in Malmo vs $92.0 in Boras. Groceries flip the comparison at $388 vs $354, with Boras 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

Malmo vs Boras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boras is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 29% higher in Malmo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

All in, you'll spend $2,148 per month in Malmo versus $1,955 in Boras – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Boras runs roughly 26% less than in Malmo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,955 in Boras versus $2,148 in Malmo, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Boras but tight or insufficient in Malmo. The gap between the two cities makes Boras the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Boras is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Malmo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Malmo and Boras are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Boras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Malmo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.