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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,106 per month in Malmo vs $1,578 in Ludvika, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,222 per month in Malmo vs $2,652 in Ludvika, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,338 per month in Malmo vs $3,725 in Ludvika, rent included.

Malmo costs about 33% more than Ludvika, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Malmo and Ludvika sit above the global median – Malmo by 57%, Ludvika by 18%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.61 SEK 127
$13.13 SEK 122
3.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.2 SEK 783
$67.3 SEK 626
25.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.88 SEK 120
$10.49 SEK 97.5
22.78%
Cappuccino
$5.01 SEK 46.55
$4.53 SEK 42.11
10.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 SEK 25.45
$2.73 SEK 25.37
0.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 SEK 19.74
$2.48 SEK 23.07
-14.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.09 SEK 75.2
$7.36 SEK 68.4
9.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.10 SEK 75.3
$7.57 SEK 70.4
7.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 SEK 15.84
$1.83 SEK 17.04
-7.10%
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 SEK 28.88
$2.69 SEK 24.99
15.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.62 SEK 33.67
$4.08 SEK 37.92
-11.27%
Eggs
$4.48 SEK 41.62
$3.89 SEK 36.17
15.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.25 SEK 114
$14.16 SEK 132
-13.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.78 SEK 119
$14.73 SEK 137
-13.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.29 SEK 254
$15.83 SEK 147
72.39%
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 SEK 31.86
$3.48 SEK 32.39
-1.44%
Banana (1kg)
$2.90 SEK 26.97
$2.58 SEK 23.98
12.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.38 SEK 31.42
$3.85 SEK 35.79
-12.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.87 SEK 45.29
$4.45 SEK 41.37
9.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 SEK 16.98
$1.51 SEK 14.08
21.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 SEK 17.60
$2.10 SEK 19.51
-10.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.59 SEK 24.13
$2.67 SEK 24.82
-3.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 SEK 11.91
$1.60 SEK 14.91
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.95 SEK 74.0
$7.26 SEK 67.5
9.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.24 SEK 114
$10.65 SEK 99.0
14.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 SEK 22.61
$1.71 SEK 15.92
42.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 SEK 25.84
$1.95 SEK 18.10
42.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.40 SEK 31.67
$3.10 SEK 28.86
9.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.0 SEK 651
$54.3 SEK 505
28.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 SEK 61.5
$14.39 SEK 134
-54.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.64 SEK 24.57
$1.65 SEK 15.37
60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$57.1 SEK 531
$21.06 SEK 196
171.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.94 SEK 18.07
$1.90 SEK 17.66
2.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K SEK 306.7K
$32.3K SEK 300.0K
2.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K SEK 314.0K
$34.4K SEK 319.5K
-1.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 SEK 1,461
$88.9 SEK 826
76.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.03 SEK 279
$20.76 SEK 193
44.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.01 SEK 372
$36.42 SEK 339
9.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.47 SEK 367
$31.76 SEK 295
24.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.84 SEK 222
$53.5 SEK 497
-55.42%
Cinema Ticket
$17.91 SEK 167
$15.81 SEK 147
13.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$159 SEK 1,477
$146 SEK 1,360
8.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,807 SEK 44.7K
$725 SEK 6,744
562.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 SEK 987
$105 SEK 979
0.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.76 SEK 416
$43.89 SEK 408
1.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 SEK 1,130
$116 SEK 1,079
4.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164 SEK 1,528
$156 SEK 1,448
5.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$927 SEK 8,619
$472 SEK 4,390
96.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$771 SEK 7,168
$448 SEK 4,164
72.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,719 SEK 16.0K
$987 SEK 9,182
74.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,342 SEK 12.5K
$990 SEK 9,211
35.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,420 SEK 41.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,390 SEK 31.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Ludvika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,361 SEK 31.3K
$4,113 SEK 38.3K
-18.30%
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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Ludvika: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $927 in Malmo versus $472 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 $84.0 in Malmo versus $67.0 in Ludvika. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $413 vs $384 – 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 33% 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 $3,160 per month in Malmo and $2,367 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 $159 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 8% 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 $1,578, than in Malmo at $2,106. 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 $1,578 versus $2,106 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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