Cost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and Skelleftea Cost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and Skelleftea

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,047 per month in Malmo vs $2,094 in Skelleftea, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,170 per month in Malmo vs $3,153 in Skelleftea, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,292 per month in Malmo vs $4,211 in Skelleftea, rent included.

Malmo is about 2% cheaper than Skelleftea, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Malmo and Skelleftea sit above the global median – Malmo by 53%, Skelleftea by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.48 SEK 126
$14.69 SEK 137
-8.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.6 SEK 799
$68.5 SEK 640
24.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.67 SEK 118
$12.94 SEK 121
-2.09%
Cappuccino
$5.05 SEK 47.16
$4.60 SEK 42.94
9.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 SEK 25.07
$2.48 SEK 23.15
8.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 SEK 20.07
$2.02 SEK 18.83
6.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.00 SEK 74.7
$8.77 SEK 81.8
-8.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.20 SEK 76.5
$8.38 SEK 78.2
-2.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 SEK 15.62
$1.67 SEK 15.60
-
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 SEK 28.99
$2.66 SEK 24.83
16.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.61 SEK 33.71
$5.15 SEK 48.03
-29.90%
Eggs
$4.42 SEK 41.22
$4.84 SEK 45.19
-8.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.05 SEK 112
$11.61 SEK 108
3.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.78 SEK 119
$11.53 SEK 108
10.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.50 SEK 257
$22.74 SEK 212
20.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.27 SEK 30.49
$2.56 SEK 23.92
27.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.78 SEK 25.94
$2.56 SEK 23.86
8.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.24 SEK 30.25
$3.24 SEK 30.25
-
Tomato (1kg)
$4.79 SEK 44.68
$3.65 SEK 34.02
31.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 SEK 17.07
$2.13 SEK 19.90
-14.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 SEK 18.22
$1.60 SEK 14.97
21.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.57 SEK 23.98
$2.30 SEK 21.46
11.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 SEK 12.50
$1.49 SEK 13.94
-10.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.13 SEK 75.9
$7.08 SEK 66.0
14.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.10 SEK 113
$16.32 SEK 152
-25.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 SEK 23.59
$1.86 SEK 17.37
36.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 SEK 24.80
$1.70 SEK 15.83
56.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.36 SEK 31.37
$4.13 SEK 38.57
-18.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.3 SEK 647
$57.5 SEK 537
20.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.44 SEK 60.1
$8.34 SEK 77.8
-22.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.64 SEK 24.63
$2.01 SEK 18.80
31.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$56.2 SEK 524
$59.0 SEK 551
-4.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.92 SEK 17.92
$1.89 SEK 17.63
1.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K SEK 308.6K
$32.9K SEK 306.7K
0.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K SEK 315.3K
$33.6K SEK 313.2K
0.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$154 SEK 1,433
$174 SEK 1,619
-11.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.36 SEK 283
$31.92 SEK 298
-4.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.38 SEK 377
$28.36 SEK 265
42.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.30 SEK 357
$40.29 SEK 376
-4.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.78 SEK 222
$25.55 SEK 238
-6.93%
Cinema Ticket
$17.81 SEK 166
$15.88 SEK 148
12.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$162 SEK 1,508
$148 SEK 1,380
9.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,876 SEK 45.5K
$4,153 SEK 38.8K
17.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 SEK 977
$99.4 SEK 927
5.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.70 SEK 426
$41.17 SEK 384
11.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 SEK 1,159
$85.1 SEK 794
45.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165 SEK 1,542
$163 SEK 1,524
1.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$932 SEK 8,693
$1,295 SEK 12.1K
-28.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$773 SEK 7,215
$880 SEK 8,208
-12.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,721 SEK 16.1K
$1,760 SEK 16.4K
-2.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,343 SEK 12.5K
$1,408 SEK 13.1K
-4.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,311 SEK 40.2K
$3,771 SEK 35.2K
14.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,360 SEK 31.3K
$3,201 SEK 29.9K
4.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Skelleftea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,353 SEK 31.3K
$2,693 SEK 25.1K
24.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.86
4.5
8.00%

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

Last update for Malmo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Skelleftea: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $932 in Malmo versus $1,295 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 24% higher in Malmo, 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 $69.0 in Skelleftea. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $410 vs $385 – making Skelleftea 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?
Skelleftea costs about 2% more than Malmo, 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 Skelleftea?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,071 per month in Malmo and $3,141 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 Malmo, 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 Skelleftea?
Kindergarten costs $162 per month in Malmo and $148 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 Skelleftea?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Skelleftea – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Malmo or Skelleftea?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Malmo, where all-in costs run around $2,047, than in Skelleftea at $2,094. In Malmo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skelleftea 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. Malmo costs $2,047 versus $2,094 in Skelleftea. 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 Skelleftea?
If budget matters most, go with Malmo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Skelleftea makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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