😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,047 in Malmo versus $1,722 in Eskilstuna.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,170 in Malmo versus $2,669 in Eskilstuna.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,292 in Malmo versus $3,615 in Eskilstuna.
😐Living in Malmo is roughly 19% more expensive than Eskilstuna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Malmo53% above, Eskilstuna29% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.48SEK 127
$13.22SEK 124
1.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.6SEK 804
$69.8SEK 656
22.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.67SEK 119
$10.49SEK 98.6
20.78%
Cappuccino
$5.05SEK 47.48
$4.67SEK 43.84
8.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69SEK 25.24
$2.71SEK 25.42
-0.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15SEK 20.21
$2.43SEK 22.82
-11.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.00SEK 75.2
$7.50SEK 70.5
6.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.20SEK 77.1
$7.54SEK 70.8
8.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67SEK 15.72
$1.50SEK 14.05
11.33%
White Bread(500g)
$3.11SEK 29.19
$3.20SEK 30.05
-2.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.61SEK 33.93
$3.58SEK 33.64
0.84%
Eggs
$4.42SEK 41.49
$3.85SEK 36.14
14.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.05SEK 113
$14.28SEK 134
-15.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.78SEK 120
$11.85SEK 111
7.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.50SEK 258
$13.41SEK 126
105.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.27SEK 30.69
$3.43SEK 32.26
-4.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.78SEK 26.12
$2.71SEK 25.46
2.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.24SEK 30.45
$2.59SEK 24.35
25.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.79SEK 44.97
$3.92SEK 36.79
22.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83SEK 17.19
$1.49SEK 13.97
22.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95SEK 18.34
$2.13SEK 20.03
-8.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.57SEK 24.14
$2.65SEK 24.86
-3.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34SEK 12.58
$1.74SEK 16.37
-22.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.13SEK 76.4
$7.54SEK 70.8
7.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.10SEK 114
$8.76SEK 82.3
38.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53SEK 23.75
$2.43SEK 22.86
4.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66SEK 24.96
$1.98SEK 18.64
34.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.36SEK 31.58
$3.22SEK 30.29
4.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.3SEK 651
$70.1SEK 658
-1.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.44SEK 60.5
$6.48SEK 60.9
-0.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.64SEK 24.80
$1.20SEK 11.25
120.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$56.2SEK 528
$63.0SEK 592
-10.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92SEK 18.04
$1.99SEK 18.67
-3.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1KSEK 310.7K
$32.5KSEK 305.4K
1.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8KSEK 317.4K
$34.4KSEK 322.9K
-1.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154SEK 1,442
$91.0SEK 854
68.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.36SEK 285
$27.96SEK 263
8.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.38SEK 379
$36.08SEK 339
11.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.30SEK 360
$25.97SEK 244
47.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.78SEK 223
$25.38SEK 238
-6.30%
Cinema Ticket
$17.81SEK 167
$11.44SEK 107
55.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$162SEK 1,518
$125SEK 1,173
29.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,876SEK 45.8K
$735SEK 6,903
563.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105SEK 983
$103SEK 968
1.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.70SEK 429
$31.39SEK 295
45.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124SEK 1,166
$93.5SEK 879
32.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165SEK 1,552
$156SEK 1,469
5.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$932SEK 8,751
$735SEK 6,908
26.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$773SEK 7,264
$631SEK 5,931
22.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,721SEK 16.2K
$1,215SEK 11.4K
41.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,343SEK 12.6K
$1,056SEK 9,917
27.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,311SEK 40.5K
$3,174SEK 29.8K
35.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,360SEK 31.6K
$2,704SEK 25.4K
24.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Eskilstuna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,353SEK 31.5K
$4,312SEK 40.5K
-22.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.86
4.53
7.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malmo: May 31, 2026
Last update for Eskilstuna: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $932 in Malmo and $735 in Eskilstuna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Eskilstuna pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $86.0 in Malmo vs $70.0 in Eskilstuna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $410 vs $356 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 19% 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 Eskilstuna?
On paper, Eskilstuna earns 29% less. 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 vs Eskilstuna?
Rent for a central apartment: $932 in Malmo versus $735 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 $2,047 per month in Malmo versus $1,722 in Eskilstuna – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Malmo vs Eskilstuna?
A monthly transit pass in Eskilstuna runs roughly 1% 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 Eskilstuna?
At $1,722 in Eskilstuna versus $2,047 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 $1,722 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 19% less than in Malmo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.