😐A single person spends $2,083 per month in Malmo vs $2,059 in Skelleftea, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,221 per month in Malmo vs $3,107 in Skelleftea, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,359 per month in Malmo vs $4,155 in Skelleftea, rent included.
😐Malmo costs about 1% more than Skelleftea, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Malmo and Skelleftea sit above the global median – Malmo by 52%, Skelleftea by 50%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.40SEK 152
$16.77SEK 165
-8.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.7SEK 756
$83.2SEK 820
-7.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.22SEK 120
$13.62SEK 134
-10.28%
Cappuccino
$5.10SEK 50.3
$4.85SEK 47.76
5.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37SEK 33.24
$2.74SEK 27.02
22.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68SEK 26.37
$2.29SEK 22.55
17.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.97SEK 88.4
$8.51SEK 83.8
5.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.97SEK 88.4
$8.35SEK 82.3
7.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75SEK 17.24
$1.65SEK 16.31
6.06%
White Bread(500g)
$3.03SEK 29.88
$2.64SEK 26.04
14.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.58SEK 35.27
$5.15SEK 50.8
-30.49%
Eggs
$4.23SEK 41.71
$5.11SEK 50.4
-17.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.07SEK 129
$11.46SEK 113
14.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.22SEK 120
$11.45SEK 113
6.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.01SEK 217
$24.84SEK 245
-11.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.05SEK 30.04
$3.34SEK 32.87
-8.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.62SEK 25.85
$2.46SEK 24.27
6.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.18SEK 31.30
$3.32SEK 32.71
-4.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.44SEK 43.75
$3.72SEK 36.62
19.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74SEK 17.14
$2.42SEK 23.82
-28.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.52SEK 14.99
$1.67SEK 16.47
-8.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.48SEK 24.46
$2.36SEK 23.30
5.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31SEK 12.89
$1.62SEK 15.96
-19.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.79SEK 76.7
$7.47SEK 73.6
4.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.80SEK 116
$15.87SEK 156
-25.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00SEK 19.72
$1.80SEK 17.69
11.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32SEK 22.85
$1.72SEK 16.98
34.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.20SEK 31.49
$2.98SEK 29.40
7.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.5SEK 636
$53.9SEK 531
19.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.42SEK 63.3
$8.31SEK 81.8
-22.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.44SEK 24.00
$1.78SEK 17.50
37.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$51.8SEK 510
$62.2SEK 613
-16.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76SEK 17.33
$1.75SEK 17.22
0.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2KSEK 327.4K
$33.8KSEK 333.2K
-1.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7KSEK 332.3K
$33.5KSEK 330.3K
0.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$140SEK 1,384
$106SEK 1,047
32.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87SEK 265
$34.88SEK 344
-22.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.50SEK 370
$52.5SEK 517
-28.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.40SEK 428
$38.78SEK 382
11.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.75SEK 293
$26.42SEK 260
12.60%
Cinema Ticket
$17.63SEK 174
$15.91SEK 157
10.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$172SEK 1,695
$150SEK 1,483
14.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,416SEK 33.7K
$5,720SEK 56.4K
-40.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103SEK 1,012
$95.9SEK 945
7.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.61SEK 459
$43.84SEK 432
6.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114SEK 1,120
$84.0SEK 828
35.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,542
$159SEK 1,570
-1.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,044SEK 10.3K
$1,203SEK 11.9K
-13.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$816SEK 8,044
$839SEK 8,267
-2.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,750SEK 17.2K
$1,679SEK 16.5K
4.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,377SEK 13.6K
$1,274SEK 12.6K
8.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,211SEK 41.5K
$4,217SEK 41.6K
-0.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,287SEK 32.4K
$2,888SEK 28.5K
13.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,113SEK 30.7K
$2,640SEK 26.0K
17.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.02
3.9
-22.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malmo: September 14, 2026
Last update for Skelleftea: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,044 in Malmo versus $1,203 in Skelleftea. 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 18% 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 $77.0 in Malmo versus $83.0 in Skelleftea. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $397 – making Malmo 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 Skelleftea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Malmo or Skelleftea?
Malmo costs about 1% more than Skelleftea, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 and in Skelleftea?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,125 per month in Malmo and $3,088 in Skelleftea. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Malmo or Skelleftea?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Skelleftea, 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 in Skelleftea?
Kindergarten costs $172 per month in Malmo and $150 in Skelleftea. 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 in Skelleftea?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Malmo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Malmo or in Skelleftea?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Skelleftea, where all-in costs run around $2,059, than in Malmo at $2,083. In Skelleftea 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 Skelleftea?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Skelleftea costs $2,059 versus $2,083 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 Skelleftea?
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 to Skelleftea?
If budget matters most, go with Skelleftea. 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.