😐A single person spends $2,081 per month in Malmo vs $1,727 in Karlskrona, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,224 per month in Malmo vs $2,601 in Karlskrona, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,368 per month in Malmo vs $3,475 in Karlskrona, rent included.
😐Malmo costs about 20% more than Karlskrona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Malmo and Karlskrona sit above the global median – Malmo by 56%, Karlskrona by 29%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Karlskrona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.74SEK 133
$13.17SEK 127
4.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.5SEK 808
$67.5SEK 653
23.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.74SEK 123
$9.28SEK 89.9
37.28%
Cappuccino
$5.15SEK 49.81
$3.94SEK 38.16
30.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68SEK 25.96
$1.45SEK 14.06
84.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10SEK 20.32
$2.51SEK 24.33
-16.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.81SEK 75.6
$7.47SEK 72.3
4.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.01SEK 77.6
$5.38SEK 52.1
48.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Karlskrona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73SEK 16.79
$1.52SEK 14.69
13.82%
White Bread(500g)
$3.08SEK 29.78
$2.82SEK 27.28
9.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.48SEK 33.72
$4.00SEK 38.69
-13.00%
Eggs
$4.53SEK 43.87
$3.94SEK 38.11
14.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.41SEK 120
$11.60SEK 112
6.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.01SEK 126
$11.68SEK 113
11.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.83SEK 260
$15.98SEK 155
67.90%
Apples(1kg)
$3.40SEK 32.89
$3.11SEK 30.08
9.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.94SEK 28.48
$2.53SEK 24.50
16.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.29SEK 31.88
$3.04SEK 29.41
8.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.83SEK 46.76
$4.68SEK 45.31
3.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87SEK 18.13
$1.50SEK 14.50
24.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94SEK 18.79
$1.56SEK 15.09
24.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.55SEK 24.72
$2.21SEK 21.37
15.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34SEK 13.02
$1.47SEK 14.20
-8.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.88SEK 76.3
$7.16SEK 69.3
10.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.67SEK 113
$12.85SEK 124
-9.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40SEK 23.28
$2.02SEK 19.58
18.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73SEK 26.43
$1.79SEK 17.32
52.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Karlskrona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.46SEK 33.46
$2.93SEK 28.39
18.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.0SEK 687
$65.2SEK 631
8.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.76SEK 65.4
$14.39SEK 139
-53.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.64SEK 25.53
$1.59SEK 15.38
66.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$57.1SEK 553
$21.13SEK 205
170.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90SEK 18.44
$1.94SEK 18.77
-2.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0KSEK 319.1K
$33.0KSEK 319.7K
-0.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KSEK 328.7K
$34.5KSEK 333.9K
-1.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Karlskrona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$155SEK 1,498
$53.1SEK 514
191.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.60SEK 287
$28.35SEK 274
4.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.55SEK 383
$37.07SEK 359
6.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Karlskrona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.29SEK 380
$44.47SEK 431
-11.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.47SEK 227
$24.19SEK 234
-2.98%
Cinema Ticket
$17.81SEK 172
$17.06SEK 165
4.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Karlskrona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$157SEK 1,523
$142SEK 1,377
10.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,884SEK 47.3K
$745SEK 7,216
555.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Karlskrona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105SEK 1,015
$104SEK 1,003
1.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.70SEK 442
$21.05SEK 204
117.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124SEK 1,201
$83.5SEK 809
48.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166SEK 1,609
$155SEK 1,500
7.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Karlskrona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$916SEK 8,870
$705SEK 6,824
29.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$791SEK 7,655
$692SEK 6,699
14.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,702SEK 16.5K
$1,146SEK 11.1K
48.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,378SEK 13.3K
$998SEK 9,663
38.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,179SEK 40.5K
$3,021SEK 29.2K
38.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,318SEK 32.1K
$2,550SEK 24.7K
30.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Karlskrona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,148SEK 30.5K
$2,501SEK 24.2K
25.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.86
4.7
3.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malmo: July 14, 2026
Last update for Karlskrona: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $916 in Malmo versus $705 in Karlskrona. 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 Malmo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $83.0 in Malmo versus $67.0 in Karlskrona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $412 vs $356 – making Karlskrona 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 Karlskrona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karlskrona cheaper than Malmo?
Yes – Malmo is pricier by about 20%, 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 $3,121 per month in Malmo and $2,591 in Karlskrona. 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 Karlskrona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Malmo or in Karlskrona?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $83.0 in Malmo and $67.0 in Karlskrona. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Malmo and in Karlskrona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,081 in Malmo and $1,727 in Karlskrona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Malmo or in Karlskrona?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlskrona, where all-in costs run around $1,727, than in Malmo at $2,081. In Karlskrona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malmo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Malmo or Karlskrona more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Karlskrona – 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 Karlskrona?
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 Karlskrona. 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.