Cost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and Sundsvall Cost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and Sundsvall

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$13.48 SEK 127
$12.51 SEK 118
7.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.6 SEK 804
$84.4 SEK 793
1.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.67 SEK 119
$10.30 SEK 96.7
23.01%
Cappuccino
$5.05 SEK 47.48
$4.41 SEK 41.46
14.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 SEK 25.24
$2.53 SEK 23.76
6.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 SEK 20.21
$2.10 SEK 19.72
2.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.00 SEK 75.2
$7.44 SEK 69.9
7.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.20 SEK 77.1
$8.09 SEK 76.0
1.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 SEK 15.72
$1.58 SEK 14.86
5.70%
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 SEK 29.19
$3.31 SEK 31.07
-6.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.61 SEK 33.93
$3.74 SEK 35.14
-3.48%
Eggs
$4.42 SEK 41.49
$3.58 SEK 33.65
23.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.05 SEK 113
$10.20 SEK 95.9
18.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.78 SEK 120
$10.35 SEK 97.2
23.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.50 SEK 258
$18.47 SEK 173
48.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.27 SEK 30.69
$2.90 SEK 27.22
12.76%
Banana (1kg)
$2.78 SEK 26.12
$2.44 SEK 22.88
13.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.24 SEK 30.45
$2.65 SEK 24.91
22.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.79 SEK 44.97
$4.06 SEK 38.09
17.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 SEK 17.19
$1.46 SEK 13.76
25.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 SEK 18.34
$1.48 SEK 13.87
31.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.57 SEK 24.14
$1.88 SEK 17.67
36.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 SEK 12.58
$0.99 SEK 9.32
35.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.13 SEK 76.4
$7.78 SEK 73.1
4.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.10 SEK 114
$9.39 SEK 88.2
28.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 SEK 23.75
$1.64 SEK 15.39
54.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 SEK 24.96
$1.50 SEK 14.13
77.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.36 SEK 31.58
$3.42 SEK 32.17
-1.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.3 SEK 651
$86.4 SEK 811
-19.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.44 SEK 60.5
$6.20 SEK 58.2
3.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.64 SEK 24.80
$1.23 SEK 11.58
114.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$56.2 SEK 528
$61.1 SEK 574
-8.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.92 SEK 18.04
$1.90 SEK 17.85
1.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K SEK 310.7K
$26.5K SEK 249.2K
24.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K SEK 317.4K
$27.7K SEK 259.8K
22.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$154 SEK 1,442
$131 SEK 1,235
16.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.36 SEK 285
$30.18 SEK 283
0.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.38 SEK 379
$26.01 SEK 244
55.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.30 SEK 360
$38.55 SEK 362
-0.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.78 SEK 223
$26.01 SEK 244
-8.57%
Cinema Ticket
$17.81 SEK 167
$14.47 SEK 136
23.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$162 SEK 1,518
$144 SEK 1,353
12.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,876 SEK 45.8K
$4,148 SEK 39.0K
17.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 SEK 983
$93.6 SEK 879
11.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.70 SEK 429
$30.00 SEK 282
52.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 SEK 1,166
$75.7 SEK 711
63.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165 SEK 1,552
$132 SEK 1,239
25.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$932 SEK 8,751
$828 SEK 7,776
12.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$773 SEK 7,264
$625 SEK 5,872
23.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,721 SEK 16.2K
$1,197 SEK 11.2K
43.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,343 SEK 12.6K
$890 SEK 8,361
50.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,311 SEK 40.5K
$2,598 SEK 24.4K
65.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,360 SEK 31.6K
$1,350 SEK 12.7K
148.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,353 SEK 31.5K
$3,231 SEK 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.

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