Cost of Living Comparison Between Varberg and Malmo Cost of Living Comparison Between Varberg and Malmo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,810 per month in Varberg vs $2,078 in Malmo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,840 per month in Varberg vs $3,236 in Malmo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,870 per month in Varberg vs $4,394 in Malmo, rent included.

Varberg is about 13% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Varberg and Malmo sit above the global median – Varberg by 35%, Malmo by 55%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.96 SEK 132

$13.76 SEK 130

1.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.2 SEK 799

$85.6 SEK 812

-1.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 SEK 94.4

$12.87 SEK 122

-22.69%

Cappuccino

$4.23 SEK 40.12

$4.94 SEK 46.81

-14.37%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 SEK 8.74

$2.74 SEK 26.02

-66.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 SEK 8.68

$2.17 SEK 20.54

-58.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.79 SEK 73.8

$7.81 SEK 74.0

-0.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 SEK 76.7

$7.93 SEK 75.2

1.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 SEK 14.40

$1.76 SEK 16.73

-13.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.12 SEK 29.59

$3.02 SEK 28.65

3.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.51 SEK 33.27

$3.61 SEK 34.23

-2.77%

Eggs

$4.41 SEK 41.83

$4.47 SEK 42.35

-1.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.15 SEK 115

$12.20 SEK 116

-0.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.51 SEK 109

$12.69 SEK 120

-9.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.97 SEK 199

$26.69 SEK 253

-21.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 SEK 32.10

$3.28 SEK 31.10

3.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.90 SEK 27.48

$2.94 SEK 27.86

-1.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 SEK 31.23

$3.25 SEK 30.77

1.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.98 SEK 47.19

$4.76 SEK 45.10

4.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 SEK 14.74

$1.86 SEK 17.67

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 SEK 17.96

$1.98 SEK 18.79

-4.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 SEK 23.64

$2.58 SEK 24.42

-3.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 SEK 11.22

$1.29 SEK 12.21

-8.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.35 SEK 69.7

$7.89 SEK 74.8

-6.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.61 SEK 101

$11.92 SEK 113

-10.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 SEK 19.62

$2.49 SEK 23.57

-16.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 SEK 11.92

$2.63 SEK 24.92

-52.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 SEK 27.77

$3.39 SEK 32.14

-13.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 SEK 709

$71.3 SEK 676

4.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 SEK 49.69

$6.55 SEK 62.1

-20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 SEK 25.14

$2.53 SEK 23.97

4.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$56.3 SEK 534

$57.3 SEK 544

-1.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 SEK 18.91

$1.92 SEK 18.21

3.65%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.3K SEK 305.8K

$32.8K SEK 311.4K

-1.79%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.3K SEK 325.0K

$33.5K SEK 317.6K

2.32%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$157 SEK 1,491

$152 SEK 1,443

3.35%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$21.27 SEK 202

$30.08 SEK 285

-29.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.22 SEK 296

$40.52 SEK 384

-22.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.03 SEK 389

$38.55 SEK 366

6.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.33 SEK 240

$23.95 SEK 227

5.76%

Cinema Ticket

$16.62 SEK 158

$18.09 SEK 172

-8.13%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$161 SEK 1,526

$157 SEK 1,493

2.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,144 SEK 39.3K

$4,974 SEK 47.2K

-16.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.2 SEK 855

$106 SEK 1,001

-14.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.45 SEK 402

$45.45 SEK 431

-6.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 SEK 931

$122 SEK 1,156

-19.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$155 SEK 1,474

$165 SEK 1,566

-5.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 SEK 7,911

$896 SEK 8,499

-6.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 SEK 6,195

$792 SEK 7,506

-17.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,413 SEK 13.4K

$1,730 SEK 16.4K

-18.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,093 SEK 10.4K

$1,349 SEK 12.8K

-18.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,916 SEK 65.6K

$4,244 SEK 40.2K

62.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,720 SEK 35.3K

$3,353 SEK 31.8K

10.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,323 SEK 31.5K

$3,254 SEK 30.9K

2.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.9

4.86

-60.91%

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

Last update for Varberg: June 7, 2026

Last update for Malmo: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $834 in Varberg versus $896 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 2% higher in Varberg, 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 $84.0 in Varberg versus $86.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $374 vs $408 – making Varberg 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

Varberg vs Malmo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Malmo costs about 15% more than Varberg, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,715 per month in Varberg and $3,118 in Malmo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Varberg, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $161 per month in Varberg and $157 in Malmo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Malmo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Varberg, where all-in costs run around $1,810, than in Malmo at $2,078. In Varberg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malmo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Varberg costs $1,810 versus $2,078 in Malmo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Varberg. 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.