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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,106 per month in Malmo vs $1,802 in Marsta, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,222 per month in Malmo vs $2,754 in Marsta, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,338 per month in Malmo vs $3,706 in Marsta, rent included.

Malmo costs about 17% more than Marsta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Malmo and Marsta sit above the global median – Malmo by 57%, Marsta by 35%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.61 SEK 127
$13.22 SEK 123
2.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.2 SEK 783
$68.4 SEK 636
23.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.88 SEK 120
$10.60 SEK 98.6
21.51%
Cappuccino
$5.01 SEK 46.55
$4.45 SEK 41.37
12.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 SEK 25.45
$2.17 SEK 20.17
26.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 SEK 19.74
$1.87 SEK 17.44
13.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.09 SEK 75.2
$7.41 SEK 68.9
9.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.10 SEK 75.3
$7.34 SEK 68.2
10.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 SEK 15.84
$1.78 SEK 16.56
-4.49%
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 SEK 28.88
$3.22 SEK 29.97
-3.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.62 SEK 33.67
$3.98 SEK 36.99
-9.05%
Eggs
$4.48 SEK 41.62
$3.82 SEK 35.55
17.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.25 SEK 114
$14.00 SEK 130
-12.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.78 SEK 119
$9.60 SEK 89.3
33.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.29 SEK 254
$15.73 SEK 146
73.49%
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 SEK 31.86
$3.69 SEK 34.32
-7.05%
Banana (1kg)
$2.90 SEK 26.97
$2.56 SEK 23.82
13.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.38 SEK 31.42
$3.14 SEK 29.21
7.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.87 SEK 45.29
$3.99 SEK 37.12
22.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 SEK 16.98
$1.52 SEK 14.11
20.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 SEK 17.60
$1.62 SEK 15.08
16.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.59 SEK 24.13
$2.70 SEK 25.12
-4.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 SEK 11.91
$1.75 SEK 16.32
-26.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.95 SEK 74.0
$7.17 SEK 66.7
10.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.24 SEK 114
$10.63 SEK 98.9
15.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 SEK 22.61
$1.79 SEK 16.65
35.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 SEK 25.84
$1.88 SEK 17.45
47.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.40 SEK 31.67
$4.13 SEK 38.40
-17.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.0 SEK 651
$101 SEK 936
-30.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 SEK 61.5
$12.25 SEK 114
-46.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.64 SEK 24.57
$1.63 SEK 15.17
61.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$57.1 SEK 531
$60.0 SEK 558
-4.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.94 SEK 18.07
$2.00 SEK 18.62
-3.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K SEK 306.7K
$33.0K SEK 306.5K
0.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K SEK 314.0K
$34.3K SEK 318.9K
-1.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 SEK 1,461
$88.1 SEK 819
78.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.03 SEK 279
$28.80 SEK 268
4.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.01 SEK 372
$36.96 SEK 344
8.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.47 SEK 367
$29.08 SEK 270
35.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.84 SEK 222
$24.91 SEK 232
-4.30%
Cinema Ticket
$17.91 SEK 167
$15.84 SEK 147
13.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$159 SEK 1,477
$144 SEK 1,338
10.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,807 SEK 44.7K
$746 SEK 6,936
544.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 SEK 987
$77.7 SEK 723
36.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.76 SEK 416
$42.96 SEK 399
4.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 SEK 1,130
$101 SEK 938
20.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164 SEK 1,528
$107 SEK 999
52.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$927 SEK 8,619
$855 SEK 7,952
8.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$771 SEK 7,168
$645 SEK 5,997
19.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,719 SEK 16.0K
$1,379 SEK 12.8K
24.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,342 SEK 12.5K
$1,086 SEK 10.1K
23.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,420 SEK 41.1K
$3,869 SEK 36.0K
14.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,390 SEK 31.5K
$2,651 SEK 24.7K
27.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Marsta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,361 SEK 31.3K
$5,003 SEK 46.5K
-32.83%
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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Marsta: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $927 in Malmo versus $855 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 49% 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 $84.0 in Malmo versus $68.0 in Marsta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $413 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 17% 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 $3,160 per month in Malmo and $2,703 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 $159 per month in Malmo and $144 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 15% 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 $1,802, than in Malmo at $2,106. 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 $1,802 versus $2,106 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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