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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,671 per month in Varberg vs $2,148 in Malmo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,673 per month in Varberg vs $3,268 in Malmo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,675 per month in Varberg vs $4,388 in Malmo, rent included.

Varberg is about 22% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Varberg and Malmo sit above the global median – Varberg by 21%, Malmo by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.62 SEK 151

$15.41 SEK 149

1.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.9 SEK 774

$80.0 SEK 775

-0.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 SEK 103

$12.32 SEK 119

-14.04%

Cappuccino

$3.90 SEK 37.85

$4.96 SEK 48.04

-21.37%

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

$1.23 SEK 11.90

$3.56 SEK 34.54

-65.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 SEK 10.81

$2.69 SEK 26.04

-58.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.35 SEK 61.6

$8.81 SEK 85.5

-27.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.90 SEK 76.6

$9.21 SEK 89.3

-14.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 SEK 15.04

$1.74 SEK 16.88

-10.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 SEK 29.80

$2.92 SEK 28.32

5.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.52 SEK 34.15

$3.63 SEK 35.15

-3.03%

Eggs

$4.33 SEK 41.99

$4.29 SEK 41.58

0.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.25 SEK 128

$13.32 SEK 129

-0.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.64 SEK 113

$12.65 SEK 123

-7.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.42 SEK 198

$22.12 SEK 214

-7.69%

Apples (1kg)

$3.19 SEK 30.94

$3.21 SEK 31.10

-0.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.60 SEK 25.19

$2.71 SEK 26.29

-4.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.15 SEK 30.58

$3.05 SEK 29.57

3.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 SEK 42.33

$4.50 SEK 43.58

-2.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 SEK 15.02

$1.78 SEK 17.22

-12.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 SEK 15.66

$1.60 SEK 15.55

1.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.65 SEK 25.72

$2.67 SEK 25.92

-0.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 SEK 9.91

$1.27 SEK 12.29

-19.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.11 SEK 68.9

$8.06 SEK 78.2

-11.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.47 SEK 102

$11.80 SEK 114

-11.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 SEK 20.35

$2.07 SEK 20.05

1.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 SEK 12.29

$2.45 SEK 23.74

-48.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 SEK 28.81

$3.28 SEK 31.84

-9.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.6 SEK 791

$64.8 SEK 628

25.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.31 SEK 51.5

$6.53 SEK 63.3

-18.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.53 SEK 24.50

$2.60 SEK 25.24

-2.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$51.5 SEK 499

$52.1 SEK 505

-1.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.81 SEK 17.53

$1.85 SEK 17.95

-2.16%

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

$34.3K SEK 332.8K

$34.1K SEK 331.0K

0.53%

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

$35.2K SEK 340.8K

$34.4K SEK 333.6K

2.19%

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

$146 SEK 1,411

$144 SEK 1,400

0.84%

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

$20.72 SEK 201

$27.41 SEK 266

-24.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.78 SEK 298

$38.23 SEK 371

-19.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.70 SEK 404

$43.31 SEK 420

-3.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.46 SEK 402

$30.14 SEK 292

37.56%

Cinema Ticket

$16.46 SEK 160

$17.87 SEK 173

-7.89%

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

$159 SEK 1,544

$180 SEK 1,742

-11.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,590 SEK 34.8K

$3,500 SEK 33.9K

2.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.0 SEK 718

$104 SEK 1,011

-28.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.00 SEK 397

$46.40 SEK 450

-11.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 SEK 1,093

$116 SEK 1,127

-3.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 SEK 1,544

$160 SEK 1,547

-0.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$844 SEK 8,185

$1,046 SEK 10.1K

-19.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$529 SEK 5,130

$822 SEK 7,968

-35.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,244 SEK 12.1K

$1,782 SEK 17.3K

-30.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$950 SEK 9,211

$1,407 SEK 13.6K

-32.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,747 SEK 65.4K

$4,132 SEK 40.1K

63.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,577 SEK 34.7K

$3,338 SEK 32.4K

7.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,274 SEK 31.7K

$3,184 SEK 30.9K

2.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.9

3.02

-37.09%

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

Last update for Varberg: September 8, 2026

Last update for Malmo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $844 in Varberg versus $1,046 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 3% 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 $80.0 in Varberg versus $80.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $368 vs $388 – 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 28% more than Varberg, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,507 per month in Varberg and $3,222 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 $159 per month in Varberg and $180 in Malmo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% 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 $1,671, than in Malmo at $2,148. 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 $1,671 versus $2,148 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.