Cost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and Vasteras Cost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and Vasteras

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,078 per month in Malmo vs $1,756 in Vasteras, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,236 per month in Malmo vs $2,803 in Vasteras, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,394 per month in Malmo vs $3,850 in Vasteras, rent included.

Malmo costs about 18% more than Vasteras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Malmo and Vasteras sit above the global median – Malmo by 55%, Vasteras by 31%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Vasteras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.76 SEK 129
$14.84 SEK 139
-7.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.6 SEK 803
$67.4 SEK 632
27.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.87 SEK 121
$10.45 SEK 98.0
23.16%
Cappuccino
$4.94 SEK 46.31
$4.64 SEK 43.48
6.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 SEK 25.74
$2.69 SEK 25.24
1.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 SEK 20.32
$2.43 SEK 22.76
-10.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 SEK 73.2
$7.58 SEK 71.1
3.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.93 SEK 74.4
$7.19 SEK 67.5
10.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Vasteras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 SEK 16.55
$1.53 SEK 14.36
15.03%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 SEK 28.35
$2.64 SEK 24.73
14.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.61 SEK 33.87
$3.94 SEK 36.93
-8.38%
Eggs
$4.47 SEK 41.90
$3.86 SEK 36.25
15.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.20 SEK 114
$11.82 SEK 111
3.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.69 SEK 119
$12.52 SEK 117
1.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.69 SEK 250
$15.60 SEK 146
71.09%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 SEK 30.77
$3.20 SEK 30.02
2.50%
Banana (1kg)
$2.94 SEK 27.56
$2.67 SEK 25.03
10.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.25 SEK 30.44
$3.42 SEK 32.12
-4.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.76 SEK 44.62
$3.59 SEK 33.64
32.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 SEK 17.48
$1.54 SEK 14.46
20.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 SEK 18.59
$1.93 SEK 18.08
2.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.58 SEK 24.16
$2.78 SEK 26.05
-7.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 SEK 12.08
$1.72 SEK 16.16
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.89 SEK 74.0
$7.36 SEK 69.0
7.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.92 SEK 112
$14.17 SEK 133
-15.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 SEK 23.32
$1.40 SEK 13.16
77.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 SEK 24.66
$1.91 SEK 17.89
37.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Vasteras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.39 SEK 31.80
$3.34 SEK 31.30
1.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.3 SEK 669
$74.0 SEK 694
-3.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.55 SEK 61.4
$3.61 SEK 33.88
81.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.53 SEK 23.71
$1.61 SEK 15.08
57.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$57.3 SEK 538
$83.1 SEK 780
-31.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.92 SEK 18.02
$1.92 SEK 18.03
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K SEK 308.1K
$32.0K SEK 300.2K
2.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K SEK 314.2K
$33.7K SEK 315.9K
-0.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Vasteras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$152 SEK 1,428
$89.5 SEK 839
70.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.08 SEK 282
$28.80 SEK 270
4.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.52 SEK 380
$37.01 SEK 347
9.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Vasteras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.55 SEK 362
$37.46 SEK 351
2.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.95 SEK 225
$20.96 SEK 197
14.27%
Cinema Ticket
$18.09 SEK 170
$19.15 SEK 180
-5.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Vasteras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$157 SEK 1,477
$159 SEK 1,489
-0.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,974 SEK 46.7K
$5,190 SEK 48.7K
-4.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Vasteras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 SEK 990
$96.5 SEK 906
9.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.45 SEK 426
$41.49 SEK 389
9.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 SEK 1,144
$92.9 SEK 871
31.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165 SEK 1,549
$125 SEK 1,168
32.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Vasteras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$896 SEK 8,408
$832 SEK 7,800
7.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$792 SEK 7,426
$608 SEK 5,700
30.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,730 SEK 16.2K
$1,465 SEK 13.7K
18.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,349 SEK 12.7K
$1,164 SEK 10.9K
15.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,244 SEK 39.8K
$3,807 SEK 35.7K
11.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,353 SEK 31.5K
$2,599 SEK 24.4K
29.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Vasteras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,254 SEK 30.5K
$3,142 SEK 29.5K
3.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.86
4.87
-0.21%

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

Last update for Malmo: June 8, 2026

Last update for Vasteras: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $896 in Malmo versus $832 in Vasteras. 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 $67.0 in Vasteras. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $408 vs $361 – making Vasteras 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 Vasteras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Malmo or Vasteras?
Malmo costs about 18% more than Vasteras, 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 Vasteras?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,118 per month in Malmo and $2,633 in Vasteras. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Malmo or Vasteras?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Vasteras, 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 Vasteras?
Kindergarten costs $157 per month in Malmo and $159 in Vasteras. 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 Vasteras?
Groceries cost about 13% 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 Vasteras?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Vasteras, where all-in costs run around $1,756, than in Malmo at $2,078. In Vasteras 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 Vasteras?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Vasteras costs $1,756 versus $2,078 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 Vasteras?
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 Vasteras?
If budget matters most, go with Vasteras. 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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