Cost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and Ludvika Cost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and Ludvika

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,092 per month in Malmo vs $1,591 in Ludvika, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,273 per month in Malmo vs $2,645 in Ludvika, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,454 per month in Malmo vs $3,700 in Ludvika, rent included.

Malmo costs about 31% more than Ludvika, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Malmo and Ludvika sit above the global median – Malmo by 57%, Ludvika by 19%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.93 SEK 130
$13.24 SEK 124
5.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.8 SEK 793
$68.4 SEK 640
23.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.56 SEK 117
$10.47 SEK 98.0
19.96%
Cappuccino
$5.11 SEK 47.78
$4.56 SEK 42.65
12.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 SEK 26.48
$2.69 SEK 25.16
5.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 SEK 20.38
$2.50 SEK 23.43
-12.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.97 SEK 74.6
$7.24 SEK 67.8
10.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.05 SEK 75.3
$7.49 SEK 70.1
7.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 SEK 15.76
$1.80 SEK 16.83
-6.11%
White Bread (500g)
$3.16 SEK 29.53
$2.70 SEK 25.21
17.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.65 SEK 34.16
$4.07 SEK 38.09
-10.32%
Eggs
$4.46 SEK 41.72
$3.84 SEK 35.94
16.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.27 SEK 115
$13.88 SEK 130
-11.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.84 SEK 120
$14.95 SEK 140
-14.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.92 SEK 252
$15.70 SEK 147
71.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 SEK 31.84
$3.62 SEK 33.82
-6.08%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 SEK 26.54
$2.61 SEK 24.37
8.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.30 SEK 30.87
$3.88 SEK 36.33
-14.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.71 SEK 44.02
$4.41 SEK 41.24
6.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 SEK 17.33
$1.51 SEK 14.09
22.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 SEK 18.24
$2.05 SEK 19.19
-4.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.59 SEK 24.21
$2.56 SEK 23.99
1.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 SEK 12.13
$1.59 SEK 14.90
-18.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.26 SEK 77.3
$7.53 SEK 70.5
9.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.03 SEK 113
$10.55 SEK 98.7
14.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 SEK 22.68
$1.79 SEK 16.70
35.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 SEK 25.82
$1.97 SEK 18.40
40.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.33 SEK 31.13
$3.15 SEK 29.47
5.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.5 SEK 659
$54.0 SEK 505
30.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.56 SEK 61.4
$14.42 SEK 135
-54.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.67 SEK 24.97
$1.58 SEK 14.75
68.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$57.4 SEK 537
$20.75 SEK 194
176.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 SEK 18.57
$1.88 SEK 17.62
5.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K SEK 300.9K
$32.9K SEK 307.7K
-2.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K SEK 314.1K
$34.6K SEK 323.7K
-2.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 SEK 1,417
$88.9 SEK 832
70.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.27 SEK 283
$21.47 SEK 201
40.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 SEK 375
$36.97 SEK 346
8.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.38 SEK 368
$32.25 SEK 302
22.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.06 SEK 225
$52.1 SEK 487
-53.78%
Cinema Ticket
$17.99 SEK 168
$15.70 SEK 147
14.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$161 SEK 1,510
$146 SEK 1,361
10.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,852 SEK 45.4K
$733 SEK 6,853
562.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 SEK 971
$104 SEK 975
-0.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 SEK 411
$43.50 SEK 407
1.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 SEK 1,152
$117 SEK 1,095
5.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$167 SEK 1,558
$158 SEK 1,482
5.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$900 SEK 8,416
$468 SEK 4,378
92.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 SEK 7,243
$457 SEK 4,276
69.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,684 SEK 15.8K
$998 SEK 9,331
68.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,340 SEK 12.5K
$1,013 SEK 9,478
32.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,382 SEK 41.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,406 SEK 31.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,257 SEK 30.5K
$3,961 SEK 37.0K
-17.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.86
4
21.50%

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

Last update for Malmo: June 13, 2026

Last update for Ludvika: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $900 in Malmo versus $468 in Ludvika. 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 22% higher in Ludvika, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Malmo versus $68.0 in Ludvika. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $411 vs $383 – making Ludvika 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 Ludvika: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Malmo or Ludvika?
Malmo costs about 31% more than Ludvika, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Malmo vs Ludvika?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,138 per month in Malmo and $2,387 in Ludvika. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Malmo or Ludvika?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ludvika, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Malmo and Ludvika?
Kindergarten costs $161 per month in Malmo and $146 in Ludvika. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Malmo or Ludvika?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Malmo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Malmo or Ludvika?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ludvika, where all-in costs run around $1,591, than in Malmo at $2,092. In Ludvika it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malmo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Malmo or Ludvika?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ludvika costs $1,591 versus $2,092 in Malmo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Malmo or Ludvika?
If budget matters most, go with Ludvika. 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.

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