😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,093 in Malmo versus $1,856 in Eskilstuna.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,234 in Malmo versus $2,818 in Eskilstuna.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,376 in Malmo versus $3,780 in Eskilstuna.
🌍Living in Malmo is roughly 13% more expensive than in Eskilstuna, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Malmo52% above, Eskilstuna35% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.36SEK 146
$14.74SEK 141
4.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.8SEK 761
$69.0SEK 658
15.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.28SEK 117
$10.48SEK 99.9
17.18%
Cappuccino
$4.87SEK 46.44
$4.65SEK 44.36
4.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55SEK 33.85
$2.73SEK 26.00
30.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84SEK 27.04
$2.27SEK 21.63
25.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.09SEK 86.7
$5.41SEK 51.6
68.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.34SEK 89.1
$5.21SEK 49.72
79.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.83SEK 17.48
$1.47SEK 13.98
24.49%
White Bread(500g)
$3.00SEK 28.60
$3.30SEK 31.50
-9.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.64SEK 34.71
$3.43SEK 32.67
6.12%
Eggs
$4.18SEK 39.88
$4.27SEK 40.73
-2.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29SEK 127
$14.29SEK 136
-7.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.35SEK 118
$13.18SEK 126
-6.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.05SEK 210
$13.66SEK 130
61.42%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12SEK 29.76
$3.36SEK 32.04
-7.14%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57SEK 24.47
$2.79SEK 26.55
-7.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.07SEK 29.28
$2.58SEK 24.60
18.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.42SEK 42.19
$3.82SEK 36.40
15.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76SEK 16.81
$1.55SEK 14.73
13.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.60SEK 15.23
$1.85SEK 17.66
-13.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64SEK 25.19
$3.25SEK 30.98
-18.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29SEK 12.26
$1.78SEK 16.95
-27.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.95SEK 75.8
$7.36SEK 70.2
8.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.86SEK 113
$8.62SEK 82.2
37.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14SEK 20.44
$2.02SEK 19.24
5.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43SEK 23.16
$2.34SEK 22.33
3.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.27SEK 31.16
$3.41SEK 32.50
-4.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.5SEK 634
$68.8SEK 656
-3.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.29SEK 60.0
$13.82SEK 132
-54.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.50SEK 23.88
$2.05SEK 19.54
21.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$52.8SEK 503
$84.1SEK 802
-37.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81SEK 17.21
$1.77SEK 16.84
2.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1KSEK 325.2K
$33.3KSEK 317.8K
2.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1KSEK 335.0K
$33.8KSEK 321.9K
4.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143SEK 1,362
$185SEK 1,768
-22.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.75SEK 265
$27.38SEK 261
1.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.07SEK 372
$41.03SEK 391
-4.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.75SEK 436
$25.77SEK 246
77.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.43SEK 290
$27.10SEK 258
12.29%
Cinema Ticket
$18.13SEK 173
$11.80SEK 112
53.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$176SEK 1,675
$159SEK 1,513
10.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,485SEK 33.2K
$5,323SEK 50.7K
-34.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104SEK 990
$104SEK 992
-0.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.39SEK 442
$31.65SEK 302
46.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119SEK 1,138
$94.6SEK 902
26.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159SEK 1,520
$159SEK 1,513
0.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,054SEK 10.1K
$833SEK 7,943
26.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$845SEK 8,060
$633SEK 6,038
33.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,733SEK 16.5K
$1,233SEK 11.8K
40.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,421SEK 13.5K
$1,078SEK 10.3K
31.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,223SEK 40.3K
$4,245SEK 40.5K
-0.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,338SEK 31.8K
$2,965SEK 28.3K
12.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,200SEK 30.5K
$4,351SEK 41.5K
-26.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.02
3.2
-5.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malmo: August 30, 2026
Last update for Eskilstuna: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,054 in Malmo and $833 in Eskilstuna. 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: $80.0 in Malmo vs $69.0 in Eskilstuna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $387 vs $366 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
Malmo vs Eskilstuna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Malmo or Eskilstuna?
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 Malmo or in Eskilstuna?
On paper, salaries run 36% lower in Eskilstuna. 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 Malmo compared to Eskilstuna?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,054 in Malmo versus $833 in Eskilstuna. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Malmo compared to Eskilstuna?
All in, you'll spend $2,093 per month in Malmo versus $1,856 in Eskilstuna – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Malmo compared to Eskilstuna?
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 Malmo or in Eskilstuna?
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, Malmo or Eskilstuna?
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 Malmo compared to Eskilstuna?
Safety-wise, Malmo and Eskilstuna 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.