😐A single person spends $2,093 per month in Malmo vs $1,807 in Sundsvall, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,234 per month in Malmo vs $2,745 in Sundsvall, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,376 per month in Malmo vs $3,684 in Sundsvall, rent included.
😐Malmo costs about 16% more than Sundsvall, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Malmo and Sundsvall sit above the global median – Malmo by 52%, Sundsvall by 31%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.36SEK 146
$15.45SEK 147
-0.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.8SEK 761
$82.3SEK 784
-3.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.28SEK 117
$11.47SEK 109
7.06%
Cappuccino
$4.87SEK 46.44
$4.86SEK 46.38
0.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55SEK 33.85
$2.51SEK 23.94
41.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84SEK 27.04
$1.98SEK 18.85
43.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.09SEK 86.7
$8.83SEK 84.2
2.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.34SEK 89.1
$7.85SEK 74.8
18.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.83SEK 17.48
$1.56SEK 14.86
17.31%
White Bread(500g)
$3.00SEK 28.60
$3.07SEK 29.31
-2.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.64SEK 34.71
$3.69SEK 35.19
-1.36%
Eggs
$4.18SEK 39.88
$3.52SEK 33.61
18.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29SEK 127
$10.03SEK 95.7
32.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.35SEK 118
$10.12SEK 96.5
22.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.05SEK 210
$18.16SEK 173
21.42%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12SEK 29.76
$2.75SEK 26.19
13.45%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57SEK 24.47
$2.42SEK 23.11
6.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.07SEK 29.28
$2.61SEK 24.90
17.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.42SEK 42.19
$4.13SEK 39.35
7.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76SEK 16.81
$1.53SEK 14.58
15.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.60SEK 15.23
$1.41SEK 13.44
13.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64SEK 25.19
$1.84SEK 17.57
43.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29SEK 12.26
$0.98SEK 9.30
31.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.95SEK 75.8
$7.78SEK 74.1
2.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.86SEK 113
$9.49SEK 90.5
24.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14SEK 20.44
$1.74SEK 16.59
22.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43SEK 23.16
$1.43SEK 13.62
69.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.27SEK 31.16
$3.51SEK 33.45
-6.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.5SEK 634
$90.7SEK 865
-26.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.29SEK 60.0
$6.21SEK 59.2
1.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.50SEK 23.88
$6.41SEK 61.1
-61.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$52.8SEK 503
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81SEK 17.21
$1.85SEK 17.60
-2.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1KSEK 325.2K
$32.2KSEK 307.0K
5.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1KSEK 335.0K
$32.5KSEK 309.4K
8.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143SEK 1,362
$102SEK 976
39.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.75SEK 265
$29.85SEK 285
-7.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.07SEK 372
$31.63SEK 302
23.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.75SEK 436
$41.82SEK 399
9.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.43SEK 290
$12.69SEK 121
139.80%
Cinema Ticket
$18.13SEK 173
$14.33SEK 137
26.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$176SEK 1,675
$145SEK 1,384
21.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,485SEK 33.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104SEK 990
$91.8SEK 876
13.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.39SEK 442
$29.13SEK 278
59.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119SEK 1,138
$78.6SEK 749
51.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159SEK 1,520
$138SEK 1,320
15.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,054SEK 10.1K
$701SEK 6,682
50.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$845SEK 8,060
$631SEK 6,020
33.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,733SEK 16.5K
$1,230SEK 11.7K
40.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,421SEK 13.5K
$926SEK 8,833
53.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,223SEK 40.3K
$2,516SEK 24.0K
67.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,338SEK 31.8K
$1,357SEK 12.9K
145.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Sundsvall
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,200SEK 30.5K
$3,141SEK 29.9K
1.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.02
3.88
-22.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malmo: August 30, 2026
Last update for Sundsvall: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,054 in Malmo versus $701 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 2% 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 $80.0 in Malmo versus $82.0 in Sundsvall. Groceries tell a different story – $387 in Malmo vs $327 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 16% 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 $3,139 per month in Malmo and $2,710 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 $176 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 18% 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 $1,807, than in Malmo at $2,093. 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 $1,807 versus $2,093 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.