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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,804 per month in Varberg vs $2,051 in Malmo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,844 per month in Varberg vs $3,181 in Malmo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,885 per month in Varberg vs $4,310 in Malmo, rent included.

Varberg is about 12% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Varberg and Malmo sit above the global median – Varberg by 35%, Malmo by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.56 SEK 132

$13.66 SEK 133

-0.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.8 SEK 805

$82.9 SEK 805

-0.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 SEK 97.4

$12.76 SEK 124

-21.39%

Cappuccino

$4.14 SEK 40.23

$4.98 SEK 48.33

-16.87%

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

$0.97 SEK 9.46

$2.81 SEK 27.31

-65.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 SEK 9.50

$2.08 SEK 20.22

-52.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.07 SEK 78.3

$7.87 SEK 76.4

2.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.78 SEK 75.5

$8.30 SEK 80.6

-6.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 SEK 15.26

$1.74 SEK 16.90

-9.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 SEK 29.58

$3.13 SEK 30.43

-2.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.53 SEK 34.26

$3.69 SEK 35.85

-4.34%

Eggs

$4.33 SEK 42.06

$4.48 SEK 43.55

-3.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.21 SEK 119

$12.40 SEK 120

-1.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 SEK 115

$12.84 SEK 125

-8.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.19 SEK 206

$27.32 SEK 265

-22.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 SEK 32.21

$3.26 SEK 31.67

1.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.93 SEK 28.43

$2.84 SEK 27.62

3.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 SEK 31.82

$3.27 SEK 31.78

0.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 SEK 46.05

$4.70 SEK 45.69

0.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 SEK 15.74

$1.80 SEK 17.49

-10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 SEK 18.95

$1.98 SEK 19.27

-1.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 SEK 25.34

$2.51 SEK 24.36

3.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 SEK 11.16

$1.33 SEK 12.87

-13.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.01 SEK 68.1

$8.10 SEK 78.7

-13.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 SEK 101

$11.84 SEK 115

-12.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 SEK 20.11

$2.40 SEK 23.36

-13.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 SEK 12.17

$2.72 SEK 26.39

-54.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 SEK 27.38

$3.31 SEK 32.12

-14.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.0 SEK 709

$70.7 SEK 686

3.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 SEK 49.68

$6.75 SEK 65.5

-24.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.55 SEK 24.73

$2.62 SEK 25.42

-2.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$55.8 SEK 542

$55.6 SEK 540

0.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.93 SEK 18.78

$1.99 SEK 19.32

-3.02%

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

$32.9K SEK 319.2K

$32.5K SEK 316.0K

1.01%

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

$33.7K SEK 327.0K

$33.5K SEK 325.2K

0.53%

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

$157 SEK 1,529

$153 SEK 1,485

2.94%

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

$20.83 SEK 202

$29.55 SEK 287

-29.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.21 SEK 313

$40.88 SEK 397

-21.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.62 SEK 395

$38.83 SEK 377

4.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.23 SEK 245

$23.37 SEK 227

7.96%

Cinema Ticket

$16.86 SEK 164

$17.86 SEK 173

-5.60%

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

$161 SEK 1,564

$160 SEK 1,557

0.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,058 SEK 39.4K

$4,973 SEK 48.3K

-18.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.2 SEK 856

$104 SEK 1,007

-14.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.66 SEK 405

$45.06 SEK 438

-7.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 SEK 978

$120 SEK 1,165

-15.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$157 SEK 1,521

$164 SEK 1,597

-4.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$836 SEK 8,120

$907 SEK 8,805

-7.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$645 SEK 6,267

$787 SEK 7,644

-18.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 SEK 13.4K

$1,686 SEK 16.4K

-18.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 SEK 10.7K

$1,339 SEK 13.0K

-17.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,638 SEK 64.5K

$4,191 SEK 40.7K

58.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,652 SEK 35.5K

$3,316 SEK 32.2K

10.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,197 SEK 31.0K

$3,219 SEK 31.3K

-0.67%

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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Malmo: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $836 in Varberg 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 1% higher in Malmo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $83.0 in Varberg versus $83.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $374 vs $411 – 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 14% 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 $2,707 per month in Varberg and $3,076 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 $160 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 $1,804, than in Malmo at $2,051. 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 $1,804 versus $2,051 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.