😐A single person spends $2,047 per month in Malmo vs $1,776 in Sundsvall, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,170 per month in Malmo vs $2,653 in Sundsvall, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,292 per month in Malmo vs $3,530 in Sundsvall, rent included.
😐Malmo costs about 15% more than Sundsvall, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Malmo and Sundsvall sit above the global median – Malmo by 53%, Sundsvall by 33%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.48SEK 127
$12.51SEK 118
7.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.6SEK 804
$84.4SEK 793
1.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.67SEK 119
$10.30SEK 96.7
23.01%
Cappuccino
$5.05SEK 47.48
$4.41SEK 41.46
14.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69SEK 25.24
$2.53SEK 23.76
6.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15SEK 20.21
$2.10SEK 19.72
2.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.00SEK 75.2
$7.44SEK 69.9
7.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.20SEK 77.1
$8.09SEK 76.0
1.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67SEK 15.72
$1.58SEK 14.86
5.70%
White Bread(500g)
$3.11SEK 29.19
$3.31SEK 31.07
-6.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.61SEK 33.93
$3.74SEK 35.14
-3.48%
Eggs
$4.42SEK 41.49
$3.58SEK 33.65
23.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.05SEK 113
$10.20SEK 95.9
18.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.78SEK 120
$10.35SEK 97.2
23.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.50SEK 258
$18.47SEK 173
48.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.27SEK 30.69
$2.90SEK 27.22
12.76%
Banana(1kg)
$2.78SEK 26.12
$2.44SEK 22.88
13.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.24SEK 30.45
$2.65SEK 24.91
22.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.79SEK 44.97
$4.06SEK 38.09
17.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83SEK 17.19
$1.46SEK 13.76
25.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95SEK 18.34
$1.48SEK 13.87
31.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.57SEK 24.14
$1.88SEK 17.67
36.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34SEK 12.58
$0.99SEK 9.32
35.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.13SEK 76.4
$7.78SEK 73.1
4.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.10SEK 114
$9.39SEK 88.2
28.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53SEK 23.75
$1.64SEK 15.39
54.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66SEK 24.96
$1.50SEK 14.13
77.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.36SEK 31.58
$3.42SEK 32.17
-1.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.3SEK 651
$86.4SEK 811
-19.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.44SEK 60.5
$6.20SEK 58.2
3.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.64SEK 24.80
$1.23SEK 11.58
114.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$56.2SEK 528
$61.1SEK 574
-8.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92SEK 18.04
$1.90SEK 17.85
1.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1KSEK 310.7K
$26.5KSEK 249.2K
24.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8KSEK 317.4K
$27.7KSEK 259.8K
22.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154SEK 1,442
$131SEK 1,235
16.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.36SEK 285
$30.18SEK 283
0.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.38SEK 379
$26.01SEK 244
55.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.30SEK 360
$38.55SEK 362
-0.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.78SEK 223
$26.01SEK 244
-8.57%
Cinema Ticket
$17.81SEK 167
$14.47SEK 136
23.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$162SEK 1,518
$144SEK 1,353
12.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,876SEK 45.8K
$4,148SEK 39.0K
17.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105SEK 983
$93.6SEK 879
11.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.70SEK 429
$30.00SEK 282
52.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124SEK 1,166
$75.7SEK 711
63.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165SEK 1,552
$132SEK 1,239
25.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$932SEK 8,751
$828SEK 7,776
12.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$773SEK 7,264
$625SEK 5,872
23.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,721SEK 16.2K
$1,197SEK 11.2K
43.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,343SEK 12.6K
$890SEK 8,361
50.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,311SEK 40.5K
$2,598SEK 24.4K
65.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,360SEK 31.6K
$1,350SEK 12.7K
148.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,353SEK 31.5K
$3,231SEK 30.4K
3.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.86
4.48
8.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malmo: May 31, 2026
Last update for Sundsvall: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $932 in Malmo versus $828 in Sundsvall. 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 4% 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 $86.0 in Malmo versus $84.0 in Sundsvall. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $410 vs $333 – making Sundsvall 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 Sundsvall: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Malmo or Sundsvall?
Malmo costs about 15% more than Sundsvall, 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 Sundsvall?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,071 per month in Malmo and $2,664 in Sundsvall. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Malmo or Sundsvall?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sundsvall, 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 Sundsvall?
Kindergarten costs $162 per month in Malmo and $144 in Sundsvall. 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 Sundsvall?
Groceries cost about 23% 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 $3,000/month in Malmo or Sundsvall?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Sundsvall, where all-in costs run around $1,776, than in Malmo at $2,047. In Sundsvall 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 Sundsvall?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sundsvall costs $1,776 versus $2,047 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 Sundsvall?
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 Sundsvall?
If budget matters most, go with Sundsvall. 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.