😐A single person spends $2,081 per month in Malmo vs $1,756 in Sundsvall, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,224 per month in Malmo vs $2,619 in Sundsvall, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,368 per month in Malmo vs $3,482 in Sundsvall, rent included.
😐Malmo costs about 18% more than Sundsvall, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Malmo and Sundsvall sit above the global median – Malmo by 56%, Sundsvall by 31%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.74SEK 133
$12.87SEK 125
6.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.5SEK 808
$85.3SEK 826
-2.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.74SEK 123
$10.42SEK 101
22.26%
Cappuccino
$5.15SEK 49.81
$4.54SEK 43.91
13.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68SEK 25.96
$2.46SEK 23.78
8.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10SEK 20.32
$2.05SEK 19.89
2.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.81SEK 75.6
$7.82SEK 75.7
-0.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.01SEK 77.6
$8.15SEK 78.9
-1.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73SEK 16.79
$1.57SEK 15.23
10.19%
White Bread(500g)
$3.08SEK 29.78
$3.34SEK 32.38
-7.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.48SEK 33.72
$3.82SEK 36.95
-8.90%
Eggs
$4.53SEK 43.87
$3.73SEK 36.09
21.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.41SEK 120
$10.14SEK 98.1
22.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.01SEK 126
$10.31SEK 99.8
26.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.83SEK 260
$18.41SEK 178
45.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.40SEK 32.89
$2.84SEK 27.47
19.72%
Banana(1kg)
$2.94SEK 28.48
$2.44SEK 23.64
20.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.29SEK 31.88
$2.57SEK 24.91
28.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.83SEK 46.76
$4.06SEK 39.32
18.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87SEK 18.13
$1.51SEK 14.66
23.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94SEK 18.79
$1.42SEK 13.78
36.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.55SEK 24.72
$1.88SEK 18.19
35.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34SEK 13.02
$1.03SEK 10.01
30.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.88SEK 76.3
$7.70SEK 74.5
2.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.67SEK 113
$9.27SEK 89.8
25.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40SEK 23.28
$1.64SEK 15.93
46.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73SEK 26.43
$1.56SEK 15.10
75.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.46SEK 33.46
$3.36SEK 32.52
2.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.0SEK 687
$85.8SEK 831
-17.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.76SEK 65.4
$6.45SEK 62.5
4.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.64SEK 25.53
$1.22SEK 11.84
116.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$57.1SEK 553
$63.1SEK 611
-9.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90SEK 18.44
$1.90SEK 18.39
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0KSEK 319.1K
$26.7KSEK 258.7K
23.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KSEK 328.7K
$26.9KSEK 260.8K
26.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$155SEK 1,498
$132SEK 1,273
17.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.60SEK 287
$29.93SEK 290
-1.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.55SEK 383
$25.77SEK 250
53.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.29SEK 380
$37.95SEK 367
3.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.47SEK 227
$26.04SEK 252
-9.87%
Cinema Ticket
$17.81SEK 172
$14.75SEK 143
20.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$157SEK 1,523
$145SEK 1,404
8.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,884SEK 47.3K
$4,164SEK 40.3K
17.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105SEK 1,015
$94.0SEK 910
11.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.70SEK 442
$30.77SEK 298
48.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124SEK 1,201
$77.5SEK 750
60.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166SEK 1,609
$131SEK 1,266
27.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$916SEK 8,870
$837SEK 8,105
9.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$791SEK 7,655
$634SEK 6,140
24.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,702SEK 16.5K
$1,191SEK 11.5K
42.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,378SEK 13.3K
$869SEK 8,413
58.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,179SEK 40.5K
$2,466SEK 23.9K
69.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,318SEK 32.1K
$1,293SEK 12.5K
156.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,148SEK 30.5K
$3,018SEK 29.2K
4.32%
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Sundsvall: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $916 in Malmo versus $837 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 $83.0 in Malmo versus $85.0 in Sundsvall. Groceries tell a different story – $412 in Malmo vs $333 in Sundsvall – so Sundsvall wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 18% 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 and in Sundsvall?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,121 per month in Malmo and $2,634 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 in Sundsvall?
Kindergarten costs $157 per month in Malmo and $145 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 in Sundsvall?
Groceries cost about 24% 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 in Sundsvall?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Sundsvall, where all-in costs run around $1,756, than in Malmo at $2,081. 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 $1,756 versus $2,081 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 to 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.