Cost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and Tumba Cost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and Tumba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,106 per month in Malmo vs $1,846 in Tumba, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,222 per month in Malmo vs $2,874 in Tumba, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,338 per month in Malmo vs $3,902 in Tumba, rent included.

Malmo costs about 14% more than Tumba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Malmo and Tumba sit above the global median – Malmo by 57%, Tumba by 38%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Tumba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.61 SEK 127
$14.65 SEK 136
-7.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.2 SEK 783
$69.1 SEK 643
21.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.88 SEK 120
$10.37 SEK 96.4
24.20%
Cappuccino
$5.01 SEK 46.55
$4.49 SEK 41.71
11.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 SEK 25.45
$2.73 SEK 25.38
0.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 SEK 19.74
$2.39 SEK 22.24
-11.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.09 SEK 75.2
$7.23 SEK 67.3
11.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.10 SEK 75.3
$7.57 SEK 70.4
7.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Tumba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 SEK 15.84
$1.80 SEK 16.72
-5.56%
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 SEK 28.88
$3.05 SEK 28.39
1.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.62 SEK 33.67
$3.94 SEK 36.61
-8.12%
Eggs
$4.48 SEK 41.62
$3.86 SEK 35.86
16.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.25 SEK 114
$12.99 SEK 121
-5.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.78 SEK 119
$13.03 SEK 121
-1.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.29 SEK 254
$15.82 SEK 147
72.50%
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 SEK 31.86
$3.59 SEK 33.36
-4.46%
Banana (1kg)
$2.90 SEK 26.97
$2.61 SEK 24.31
11.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.38 SEK 31.42
$1.56 SEK 14.52
116.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.87 SEK 45.29
$4.49 SEK 41.74
8.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 SEK 16.98
$1.55 SEK 14.40
18.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 SEK 17.60
$1.87 SEK 17.42
1.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.59 SEK 24.13
$2.59 SEK 24.05
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 SEK 11.91
$1.55 SEK 14.41
-17.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.95 SEK 74.0
$7.22 SEK 67.1
10.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.24 SEK 114
$12.94 SEK 120
-5.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 SEK 22.61
$1.73 SEK 16.06
40.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 SEK 25.84
$1.91 SEK 17.75
45.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Tumba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.40 SEK 31.67
$4.49 SEK 41.73
-24.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.0 SEK 651
$108 SEK 1,007
-35.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 SEK 61.5
$6.17 SEK 57.4
7.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.64 SEK 24.57
$1.24 SEK 11.56
112.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$57.1 SEK 531
$21.40 SEK 199
167.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.94 SEK 18.07
$1.94 SEK 18.03
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K SEK 306.7K
$32.4K SEK 301.7K
1.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K SEK 314.0K
$34.8K SEK 323.3K
-2.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Tumba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 SEK 1,461
$90.1 SEK 838
74.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.03 SEK 279
$28.10 SEK 261
6.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.01 SEK 372
$42.22 SEK 393
-5.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Tumba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.47 SEK 367
$42.63 SEK 396
-7.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.84 SEK 222
$25.71 SEK 239
-7.27%
Cinema Ticket
$17.91 SEK 167
$16.03 SEK 149
11.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Tumba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$159 SEK 1,477
$142 SEK 1,316
12.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,807 SEK 44.7K
$4,110 SEK 38.2K
16.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Tumba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 SEK 987
$106 SEK 987
0.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.76 SEK 416
$44.06 SEK 410
1.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 SEK 1,130
$114 SEK 1,062
6.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164 SEK 1,528
$157 SEK 1,458
4.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Tumba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$927 SEK 8,619
$843 SEK 7,842
9.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$771 SEK 7,168
$654 SEK 6,084
17.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,719 SEK 16.0K
$1,370 SEK 12.7K
25.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,342 SEK 12.5K
$1,099 SEK 10.2K
22.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,420 SEK 41.1K
$4,049 SEK 37.7K
9.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,390 SEK 31.5K
$3,184 SEK 29.6K
6.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Tumba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,361 SEK 31.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.86
4.16
16.83%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Malmo: April 28, 2026

Last update for Tumba: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $927 in Malmo versus $843 in Tumba. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in Malmo versus $69.0 in Tumba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $413 vs $369 – making Tumba 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 Tumba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Malmo or Tumba?
Malmo costs about 14% more than Tumba, 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 Tumba?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,160 per month in Malmo and $2,770 in Tumba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Malmo or Tumba?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tumba, 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 Tumba?
Kindergarten costs $159 per month in Malmo and $142 in Tumba. 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 Tumba?
Groceries cost about 12% 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 $2,000/month in Malmo or Tumba?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tumba, where all-in costs run around $1,846, than in Malmo at $2,106. In Tumba 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 Tumba?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tumba costs $1,846 versus $2,106 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 Tumba?
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 Tumba?
If budget matters most, go with Tumba. 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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