Cost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and Marsta Cost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and Marsta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,078 per month in Malmo vs $1,750 in Marsta, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,236 per month in Malmo vs $2,757 in Marsta, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,394 per month in Malmo vs $3,764 in Marsta, rent included.

Malmo costs about 19% more than Marsta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Malmo and Marsta sit above the global median – Malmo by 55%, Marsta by 30%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.76 SEK 129
$13.33 SEK 125
3.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.6 SEK 803
$67.3 SEK 631
27.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.87 SEK 121
$10.69 SEK 100
20.39%
Cappuccino
$4.94 SEK 46.31
$4.70 SEK 44.09
5.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 SEK 25.74
$2.14 SEK 20.07
28.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 SEK 20.32
$1.88 SEK 17.60
15.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 SEK 73.2
$7.29 SEK 68.4
7.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.93 SEK 74.4
$7.21 SEK 67.6
9.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 SEK 16.55
$1.85 SEK 17.39
-4.86%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 SEK 28.35
$3.16 SEK 29.64
-4.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.61 SEK 33.87
$3.98 SEK 37.34
-9.30%
Eggs
$4.47 SEK 41.90
$3.76 SEK 35.25
18.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.20 SEK 114
$14.19 SEK 133
-14.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.69 SEK 119
$9.73 SEK 91.3
30.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.69 SEK 250
$15.83 SEK 149
68.60%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 SEK 30.77
$3.52 SEK 32.99
-6.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.94 SEK 27.56
$2.57 SEK 24.15
14.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.25 SEK 30.44
$3.21 SEK 30.14
1.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.76 SEK 44.62
$3.87 SEK 36.27
23.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 SEK 17.48
$1.55 SEK 14.52
20.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 SEK 18.59
$1.62 SEK 15.19
22.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.58 SEK 24.16
$2.68 SEK 25.16
-3.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 SEK 12.08
$1.74 SEK 16.33
-25.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.89 SEK 74.0
$7.30 SEK 68.5
8.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.92 SEK 112
$10.65 SEK 99.9
11.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 SEK 23.32
$1.71 SEK 16.08
45.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 SEK 24.66
$1.91 SEK 17.90
37.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.39 SEK 31.80
$4.25 SEK 39.86
-20.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.3 SEK 669
$99.1 SEK 929
-28.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.55 SEK 61.4
$12.07 SEK 113
-45.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.53 SEK 23.71
$1.64 SEK 15.42
54.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$57.3 SEK 538
$58.6 SEK 549
-2.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.92 SEK 18.02
$1.98 SEK 18.60
-3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K SEK 308.1K
$32.7K SEK 306.4K
0.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K SEK 314.2K
$34.4K SEK 323.2K
-2.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$152 SEK 1,428
$88.8 SEK 833
71.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.08 SEK 282
$27.88 SEK 262
7.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.52 SEK 380
$36.73 SEK 345
10.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.55 SEK 362
$28.68 SEK 269
34.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.95 SEK 225
$25.49 SEK 239
-6.04%
Cinema Ticket
$18.09 SEK 170
$15.77 SEK 148
14.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$157 SEK 1,477
$145 SEK 1,358
8.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,974 SEK 46.7K
$746 SEK 6,999
566.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 SEK 990
$78.4 SEK 735
34.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.45 SEK 426
$43.16 SEK 405
5.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 SEK 1,144
$99.8 SEK 936
22.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165 SEK 1,549
$107 SEK 1,001
54.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$896 SEK 8,408
$831 SEK 7,800
7.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$792 SEK 7,426
$644 SEK 6,036
23.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,730 SEK 16.2K
$1,414 SEK 13.3K
22.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,349 SEK 12.7K
$1,081 SEK 10.1K
24.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,244 SEK 39.8K
$4,574 SEK 42.9K
-7.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,353 SEK 31.5K
$2,555 SEK 24.0K
31.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,254 SEK 30.5K
$4,884 SEK 45.8K
-33.39%
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Marsta: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $896 in Malmo versus $831 in Marsta. 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 50% higher in Marsta, 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 $86.0 in Malmo versus $67.0 in Marsta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $408 vs $358 – making Marsta 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 Marsta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Malmo or Marsta?
Malmo costs about 19% more than Marsta, 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 Marsta?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,118 per month in Malmo and $2,625 in Marsta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Malmo or Marsta?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Marsta, 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 Marsta?
Kindergarten costs $157 per month in Malmo and $145 in Marsta. 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 Marsta?
Groceries cost about 14% 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 $2,500/month in Malmo or Marsta?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Marsta, where all-in costs run around $1,750, than in Malmo at $2,078. In Marsta 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 Marsta?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Marsta costs $1,750 versus $2,078 in Malmo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Malmo compared to Marsta?
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.
Should I move to Malmo or Marsta?
If budget matters most, go with Marsta. 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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