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