😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,083 in Malmo versus $1,745 in Jonkoping.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,221 in Malmo versus $2,834 in Jonkoping.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,359 in Malmo versus $3,922 in Jonkoping.
🌍Living in Malmo is roughly 19% more expensive than in Jonkoping, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Malmo52% above, Jonkoping28% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Jonkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.40SEK 152
$13.40SEK 132
14.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.7SEK 756
$92.2SEK 908
-16.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.22SEK 120
$12.14SEK 120
0.66%
Cappuccino
$5.10SEK 50.3
$4.58SEK 45.16
11.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37SEK 33.24
$2.08SEK 20.50
62.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68SEK 26.37
$2.09SEK 20.55
28.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.97SEK 88.4
$8.00SEK 78.8
12.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.97SEK 88.4
$7.36SEK 72.5
21.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Jonkoping
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75SEK 17.24
$1.70SEK 16.79
2.94%
White Bread(500g)
$3.03SEK 29.88
$2.10SEK 20.68
44.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.58SEK 35.27
$3.68SEK 36.28
-2.72%
Eggs
$4.23SEK 41.71
$3.88SEK 38.22
9.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.07SEK 129
$12.75SEK 126
2.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.22SEK 120
$12.04SEK 119
1.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.01SEK 217
$17.32SEK 171
27.08%
Apples(1kg)
$3.05SEK 30.04
$3.02SEK 29.73
0.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.62SEK 25.85
$2.58SEK 25.40
1.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.18SEK 31.30
$2.92SEK 28.80
8.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.44SEK 43.75
$4.41SEK 43.47
0.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74SEK 17.14
$1.70SEK 16.71
2.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.52SEK 14.99
$1.47SEK 14.49
3.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.48SEK 24.46
$1.76SEK 17.34
40.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31SEK 12.89
$1.02SEK 10.03
28.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.79SEK 76.7
$8.29SEK 81.7
-6.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.80SEK 116
$11.26SEK 111
4.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00SEK 19.72
$1.83SEK 18.08
9.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32SEK 22.85
$2.26SEK 22.31
2.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Jonkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.20SEK 31.49
$4.08SEK 40.24
-21.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.5SEK 636
$77.1SEK 760
-16.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.42SEK 63.3
$5.24SEK 51.6
22.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.44SEK 24.00
$1.15SEK 11.35
112.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$51.8SEK 510
$43.27SEK 426
19.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76SEK 17.33
$1.78SEK 17.51
-1.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2KSEK 327.4K
$33.8KSEK 332.7K
-1.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7KSEK 332.3K
$34.2KSEK 337.2K
-1.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Jonkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$140SEK 1,384
$79.6SEK 785
76.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87SEK 265
$28.64SEK 282
-6.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.50SEK 370
$42.27SEK 417
-11.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Jonkoping
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.40SEK 428
$44.69SEK 440
-2.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.75SEK 293
$30.32SEK 299
-1.88%
Cinema Ticket
$17.63SEK 174
$15.08SEK 149
16.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Jonkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$172SEK 1,695
$162SEK 1,598
6.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,416SEK 33.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Jonkoping
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103SEK 1,012
$83.5SEK 822
23.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.61SEK 459
$26.00SEK 256
79.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114SEK 1,120
$102SEK 1,006
11.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,542
$125SEK 1,229
25.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Jonkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,044SEK 10.3K
$914SEK 9,004
14.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$816SEK 8,044
$655SEK 6,459
24.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,750SEK 17.2K
$1,378SEK 13.6K
26.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,377SEK 13.6K
$1,197SEK 11.8K
14.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,211SEK 41.5K
$3,655SEK 36.0K
15.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,287SEK 32.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Jonkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,113SEK 30.7K
$2,951SEK 29.1K
5.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.02
3.27
-7.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malmo: September 14, 2026
Last update for Jonkoping: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,044 in Malmo and $914 in Jonkoping. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Malmo pays 5% 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: $77.0 in Malmo vs $92.0 in Jonkoping. Groceries flip the comparison at $383 vs $346, with Jonkoping 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 Jonkoping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jonkoping cheaper than Malmo?
Jonkoping is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Malmo or Jonkoping?
Average pay runs 5% higher in Malmo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Malmo and Jonkoping?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,044 in Malmo versus $914 in Jonkoping. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $172 in Malmo versus $162 in Jonkoping. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Malmo and in Jonkoping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Malmo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Malmo or in Jonkoping?
At $1,745 in Jonkoping versus $2,083 in Malmo, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Jonkoping but tight or insufficient in Malmo. The gap between the two cities makes Jonkoping the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Malmo or Jonkoping more family-friendly?
For families, Jonkoping 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.
Which city is safer, Malmo or Jonkoping?
Safety-wise, Malmo and Jonkoping 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Jonkoping 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.