Cost of Living Comparison Between Skovde and Malmo Cost of Living Comparison Between Skovde and Malmo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,843 per month in Skovde vs $2,051 in Malmo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,868 per month in Skovde vs $3,181 in Malmo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,893 per month in Skovde vs $4,310 in Malmo, rent included.

Skovde is about 10% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Skovde and Malmo sit above the global median – Skovde by 38%, Malmo by 54%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skovde
Malmo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.79 SEK 153
$13.66 SEK 132
15.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7 SEK 666
$82.9 SEK 803
-17.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.38 SEK 110
$12.76 SEK 124
-10.82%
Cappuccino
$4.91 SEK 47.60
$4.98 SEK 48.25
-1.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 SEK 26.31
$2.81 SEK 27.27
-3.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 SEK 20.81
$2.08 SEK 20.18
3.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.56 SEK 83.0
$7.87 SEK 76.3
8.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.76 SEK 85.0
$8.30 SEK 80.5
5.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skovde
Malmo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 SEK 16.11
$1.74 SEK 16.87
-4.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.84 SEK 27.53
$3.13 SEK 30.39
-9.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.57 SEK 44.34
$3.69 SEK 35.79
23.85%
Eggs
$5.18 SEK 50.3
$4.48 SEK 43.49
15.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.95 SEK 116
$12.40 SEK 120
-3.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.91 SEK 135
$12.84 SEK 124
8.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.88 SEK 164
$27.32 SEK 265
-38.21%
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 SEK 36.69
$3.26 SEK 31.62
15.95%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 SEK 26.48
$2.84 SEK 27.58
-3.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.59 SEK 34.84
$3.27 SEK 31.73
9.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.96 SEK 48.08
$4.70 SEK 45.62
5.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.58 SEK 15.31
$1.80 SEK 17.46
-12.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 SEK 17.43
$1.98 SEK 19.24
-9.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.60 SEK 25.21
$2.51 SEK 24.32
3.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 SEK 12.20
$1.33 SEK 12.85
-5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.06 SEK 78.2
$8.10 SEK 78.5
-0.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.42 SEK 81.7
$11.84 SEK 115
-28.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 SEK 23.78
$2.40 SEK 23.32
2.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 SEK 26.10
$2.72 SEK 26.35
-1.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Skovde
Malmo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.77 SEK 36.58
$3.31 SEK 32.07
13.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 SEK 720
$70.7 SEK 685
5.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.67 SEK 55.0
$6.75 SEK 65.4
-16.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 SEK 15.32
$2.62 SEK 25.38
-39.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$63.7 SEK 618
$55.6 SEK 539
14.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.00 SEK 19.42
$1.99 SEK 19.29
0.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K SEK 313.2K
$32.5K SEK 315.5K
-0.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2K SEK 331.4K
$33.5K SEK 324.7K
2.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skovde
Malmo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 SEK 1,080
$153 SEK 1,483
-27.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.38 SEK 285
$29.55 SEK 287
-0.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.39 SEK 411
$40.88 SEK 396
3.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skovde
Malmo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.41 SEK 392
$38.83 SEK 376
4.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.06 SEK 243
$23.37 SEK 227
7.23%
Cinema Ticket
$20.00 SEK 194
$17.86 SEK 173
11.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skovde
Malmo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$144 SEK 1,397
$160 SEK 1,555
-10.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,475 SEK 53.1K
$4,973 SEK 48.2K
10.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skovde
Malmo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.7 SEK 840
$104 SEK 1,005
-16.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.80 SEK 396
$45.06 SEK 437
-9.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.4 SEK 964
$120 SEK 1,163
-17.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159 SEK 1,545
$164 SEK 1,595
-3.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skovde
Malmo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$844 SEK 8,181
$907 SEK 8,791
-6.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$648 SEK 6,288
$787 SEK 7,632
-17.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,402 SEK 13.6K
$1,686 SEK 16.3K
-16.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,077 SEK 10.4K
$1,339 SEK 13.0K
-19.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,065 SEK 39.4K
$4,191 SEK 40.6K
-3.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,868 SEK 27.8K
$3,316 SEK 32.2K
-13.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skovde
Malmo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,373 SEK 32.7K
$3,219 SEK 31.2K
4.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
4.86
-1.23%

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

Last update for Skovde: July 21, 2026

Last update for Malmo: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $844 in Skovde versus $907 in Malmo. 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 5% higher in Skovde, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Skovde versus $83.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $411 – making Skovde 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
Skovde vs Malmo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Skovde or Malmo?
Malmo costs about 11% more than Skovde, 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 Skovde and in Malmo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,765 per month in Skovde and $3,076 in Malmo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Skovde or Malmo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Skovde, 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 Skovde and in Malmo?
Kindergarten costs $144 per month in Skovde and $160 in Malmo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Skovde or in Malmo?
Groceries cost about 7% 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 Skovde or in Malmo?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Skovde, where all-in costs run around $1,843, than in Malmo at $2,051. In Skovde it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malmo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Skovde or Malmo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Skovde costs $1,843 versus $2,051 in Malmo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Skovde compared to Malmo?
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 Skovde or to Malmo?
If budget matters most, go with Skovde. 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.

Skovde vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities