Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ostersund and Malmo

For one person, living is cheaper in Ostersund: $1,761 a month against $2,120 in Malmo, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ostersund, Sweden
Malmo, Sweden
Ostersund
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,761
/mo nomad
Malmo
🇸🇪 Sweden
$2,120
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ostersund and in Malmo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ostersund and in Malmo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,761 per month in Ostersund vs $2,120 in Malmo, rent included.

  • Ostersund $1,761
  • Malmo $2,120

A couple spends around $2,732 per month in Ostersund vs $3,205 in Malmo, rent included.

  • Ostersund $2,732
  • Malmo $3,205

A family of three spends $3,703 per month in Ostersund vs $4,290 in Malmo, rent included.

  • Ostersund $3,703
  • Malmo $4,290

Ostersund is about 17% cheaper than Malmo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Ostersund and Malmo sit above the global median – Ostersund by 30%, Malmo by 57%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ostersund
Malmo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.51 SEK 142
$15.53 SEK 152
-6.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.6 SEK 670
$78.4 SEK 766
-12.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.03 SEK 88.2
$12.46 SEK 122
-27.53%
Cappuccino
$4.35 SEK 42.54
$4.94 SEK 48.27
-11.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 SEK 25.11
$3.39 SEK 33.12
-24.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 SEK 19.81
$2.67 SEK 26.06
-23.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.80 SEK 76.3
$8.77 SEK 85.7
-11.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.36 SEK 72.0
$8.94 SEK 87.4
-17.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ostersund
Malmo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 SEK 14.08
$1.71 SEK 16.71
-15.79%
White Bread (500g)
$3.03 SEK 29.62
$2.86 SEK 27.97
5.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.78 SEK 46.71
$3.51 SEK 34.29
36.18%
Eggs
$3.34 SEK 32.59
$3.88 SEK 37.92
-13.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.80 SEK 135
$12.92 SEK 126
6.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.78 SEK 115
$12.47 SEK 122
-5.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.72 SEK 154
$21.74 SEK 212
-27.69%
Apples (1kg)
$4.30 SEK 42.05
$3.09 SEK 30.16
39.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.92 SEK 28.55
$2.66 SEK 26.01
9.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.53 SEK 34.50
$3.11 SEK 30.39
13.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.21 SEK 41.11
$4.49 SEK 43.92
-6.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.61 SEK 15.72
$1.63 SEK 15.89
-1.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.61 SEK 15.78
$1.57 SEK 15.30
2.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.33 SEK 22.77
$2.57 SEK 25.13
-9.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 SEK 15.25
$1.22 SEK 11.88
27.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.70 SEK 75.3
$8.03 SEK 78.5
-4.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.05 SEK 98.2
$11.84 SEK 116
-15.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 SEK 20.99
$2.09 SEK 20.38
2.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 SEK 22.23
$2.33 SEK 22.75
-2.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Ostersund
Malmo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.26 SEK 31.88
$3.30 SEK 32.23
-1.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 SEK 746
$64.7 SEK 632
17.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.12 SEK 59.8
$6.21 SEK 60.7
-1.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 SEK 16.51
$2.45 SEK 23.94
-31.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.8 SEK 594
$52.0 SEK 508
16.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.78 SEK 17.40
$1.77 SEK 17.30
0.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K SEK 299.8K
$33.5K SEK 327.0K
-8.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K SEK 356.6K
$34.2K SEK 334.6K
6.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ostersund
Malmo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$118 SEK 1,150
$146 SEK 1,431
-19.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.84 SEK 233
$22.36 SEK 218
6.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.29 SEK 384
$39.56 SEK 387
-0.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ostersund
Malmo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.62 SEK 368
$37.65 SEK 368
-0.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.52 SEK 259
$31.39 SEK 307
-15.51%
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 SEK 148
$17.02 SEK 166
-11.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ostersund
Malmo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$127 SEK 1,238
$172 SEK 1,685
-26.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,587 SEK 54.6K
$3,146 SEK 30.7K
77.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ostersund
Malmo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.2 SEK 911
$104 SEK 1,013
-10.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.48 SEK 415
$45.60 SEK 446
-6.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.4 SEK 776
$115 SEK 1,128
-31.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 SEK 1,389
$156 SEK 1,528
-9.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ostersund
Malmo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$812 SEK 7,939
$1,097 SEK 10.7K
-25.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$610 SEK 5,963
$868 SEK 8,481
-29.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,394 SEK 13.6K
$1,800 SEK 17.6K
-22.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,038 SEK 10.1K
$1,387 SEK 13.6K
-25.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,784 SEK 37.0K
$4,139 SEK 40.4K
-8.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,495 SEK 24.4K
$3,172 SEK 31.0K
-21.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ostersund
Malmo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$3,173 SEK 31.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.38
3.05
10.82%

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

Last update for Ostersund: November 1, 2026

Last update for Malmo: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ostersund
$610
Malmo
$868 42.2% $258
Groceries & Markets
Ostersund
$370
Malmo
$380 2.5% $9.2
Eating Out
Ostersund
$268
Malmo
$307 14.7% $39
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ostersund
$181
Malmo
$208 15.2% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Ostersund
$161
Malmo
$189 17.9% $29
Getting Around
Ostersund
$104
Malmo
$96 7.3% $7.5
Sport & Entertainment
Ostersund
$68
Malmo
$72 5.6% $3.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $812 in Ostersund versus $1,097 in Malmo. 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 $69 in Ostersund versus $78 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $380 – making Ostersund the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Ostersund
🇸🇪 Malmo
🕒 Local time
22:19 10:19 PM
22:19 10:19 PM
Same time as Ostersund
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
44,000
316,588
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 9.77 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.97 SEK (100 SEK = 9.12 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ostersund Malmo 850 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ostersund
  • Malmo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Ostersund vs Malmo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ostersund or Malmo?
Malmo costs about 20% more than Ostersund, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Ostersund and in Malmo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,642 per month in Ostersund and $3,180 in Malmo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ostersund or Malmo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ostersund, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $812 there versus $1,097 in Malmo.
How do dining costs compare in Ostersund and in Malmo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69 in Ostersund and $78 in Malmo. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How expensive is transport in Ostersund compared to Malmo?
Public transport costs about 15% less in Malmo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Ostersund or in Malmo?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,761 in Ostersund and $2,120 in Malmo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ostersund or Malmo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ostersund costs $1,761 versus $2,120 in Malmo. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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