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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,873 per month in Varberg vs $2,050 in Malmo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,861 per month in Varberg vs $3,204 in Malmo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,850 per month in Varberg vs $4,359 in Malmo, rent included.

Varberg is about 9% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Varberg and Malmo sit above the global median – Varberg by 40%, Malmo by 53%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.52 SEK 124

$13.47 SEK 124

0.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.8 SEK 789

$83.6 SEK 769

2.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.16 SEK 93.4

$12.52 SEK 115

-18.85%

Cappuccino

$4.10 SEK 37.70

$5.02 SEK 46.14

-18.33%

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

$0.99 SEK 9.13

$2.72 SEK 25.04

-63.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 SEK 8.99

$2.20 SEK 20.21

-55.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.92 SEK 72.9

$7.86 SEK 72.3

0.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.89 SEK 72.5

$7.94 SEK 73.0

-0.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 SEK 13.73

$1.73 SEK 15.95

-13.87%

White Bread (500g)

$3.15 SEK 29.02

$3.02 SEK 27.76

4.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.51 SEK 32.29

$3.49 SEK 32.14

0.57%

Eggs

$4.45 SEK 40.90

$4.39 SEK 40.40

1.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.13 SEK 112

$12.12 SEK 112

0.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.62 SEK 107

$12.82 SEK 118

-9.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.32 SEK 196

$27.50 SEK 253

-22.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 SEK 30.51

$3.37 SEK 31.04

-1.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.83 SEK 26.00

$2.80 SEK 25.73

1.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.43 SEK 31.58

$3.40 SEK 31.30

0.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 SEK 44.24

$4.88 SEK 44.86

-1.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 SEK 14.11

$1.86 SEK 17.07

-17.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 SEK 17.88

$1.89 SEK 17.43

2.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 SEK 23.17

$2.61 SEK 24.02

-3.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 SEK 10.46

$1.28 SEK 11.75

-10.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.21 SEK 66.4

$7.82 SEK 72.0

-7.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.74 SEK 98.8

$12.36 SEK 114

-13.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 SEK 19.17

$2.51 SEK 23.12

-17.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 SEK 11.96

$2.76 SEK 25.37

-52.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 SEK 26.99

$3.34 SEK 30.73

-12.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.6 SEK 686

$70.7 SEK 651

5.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.32 SEK 48.97

$6.77 SEK 62.3

-21.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.56 SEK 23.55

$2.64 SEK 24.27

-3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$56.0 SEK 515

$57.6 SEK 529

-2.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.92 SEK 17.65

$1.99 SEK 18.27

-3.52%

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

$32.9K SEK 302.4K

$32.6K SEK 299.6K

0.91%

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

$33.3K SEK 306.8K

$33.5K SEK 308.6K

-0.58%

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

$154 SEK 1,419

$157 SEK 1,446

-1.88%

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

$21.13 SEK 194

$30.35 SEK 279

-30.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.27 SEK 297

$39.91 SEK 367

-19.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.09 SEK 378

$38.89 SEK 358

5.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.52 SEK 235

$23.74 SEK 218

7.50%

Cinema Ticket

$16.57 SEK 152

$18.27 SEK 168

-9.30%

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

$156 SEK 1,432

$162 SEK 1,486

-3.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,124 SEK 37.9K

$4,808 SEK 44.2K

-14.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 SEK 824

$104 SEK 959

-14.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.66 SEK 383

$44.93 SEK 413

-7.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 SEK 925

$123 SEK 1,131

-18.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 SEK 1,468

$167 SEK 1,535

-4.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$847 SEK 7,795

$903 SEK 8,305

-6.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 SEK 6,109

$770 SEK 7,088

-13.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,395 SEK 12.8K

$1,686 SEK 15.5K

-17.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 SEK 10.0K

$1,352 SEK 12.4K

-19.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,272 SEK 39.3K

$4,535 SEK 41.7K

-5.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,993 SEK 27.5K

$3,494 SEK 32.1K

-14.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,434 SEK 31.6K

0.01%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Malmo: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $847 in Varberg versus $903 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 0% 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 $86 in Varberg versus $84 in Malmo. Groceries tell a different story – $375 in Varberg vs $412 in Malmo – so Varberg wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 9% 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 $2,809 per month in Varberg and $3,075 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 $156 per month in Varberg and $162 in Malmo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% 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 $1,873, than in Malmo at $2,050. 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 $1,873 versus $2,050 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.