Cost of Living Comparison Between Vasteras and Malmo Cost of Living Comparison Between Vasteras and Malmo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,759 per month in Vasteras vs $2,081 in Malmo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,796 per month in Vasteras vs $3,224 in Malmo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,833 per month in Vasteras vs $4,368 in Malmo, rent included.

Vasteras is about 15% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vasteras and Malmo sit above the global median – Vasteras by 32%, Malmo by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.94 SEK 145

$13.74 SEK 133

8.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.2 SEK 660

$83.5 SEK 808

-18.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.55 SEK 102

$12.74 SEK 123

-17.19%

Cappuccino

$4.66 SEK 45.12

$5.15 SEK 49.81

-9.51%

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

$2.72 SEK 26.32

$2.68 SEK 25.96

1.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SEK 23.97

$2.10 SEK 20.32

18.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.51 SEK 72.7

$7.81 SEK 75.6

-3.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 SEK 71.3

$8.01 SEK 77.6

-8.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 SEK 14.77

$1.73 SEK 16.79

-11.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 SEK 25.55

$3.08 SEK 29.78

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.79 SEK 36.69

$3.48 SEK 33.72

8.91%

Eggs

$3.89 SEK 37.66

$4.53 SEK 43.87

-14.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.12 SEK 117

$12.41 SEK 120

-2.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.46 SEK 121

$13.01 SEK 126

-4.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.76 SEK 153

$26.83 SEK 260

-41.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 SEK 32.00

$3.40 SEK 32.89

-2.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.62 SEK 25.40

$2.94 SEK 28.48

-10.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.61 SEK 34.98

$3.29 SEK 31.88

9.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.64 SEK 35.26

$4.83 SEK 46.76

-24.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 SEK 15.06

$1.87 SEK 18.13

-16.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 SEK 18.72

$1.94 SEK 18.79

-0.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 SEK 26.76

$2.55 SEK 24.72

8.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 SEK 16.09

$1.34 SEK 13.02

23.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.40 SEK 71.6

$7.88 SEK 76.3

-6.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.48 SEK 121

$11.67 SEK 113

6.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 SEK 13.48

$2.40 SEK 23.28

-42.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 SEK 18.92

$2.73 SEK 26.43

-28.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.32 SEK 32.11

$3.46 SEK 33.46

-4.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.1 SEK 707

$71.0 SEK 687

2.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.75 SEK 36.28

$6.76 SEK 65.4

-44.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 SEK 15.36

$2.64 SEK 25.53

-39.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$82.9 SEK 803

$57.1 SEK 553

45.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.98 SEK 19.22

$1.90 SEK 18.44

4.21%

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

$33.0K SEK 319.3K

$33.0K SEK 319.1K

0.06%

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

$34.0K SEK 329.5K

$33.9K SEK 328.7K

0.25%

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

$88.6 SEK 857

$155 SEK 1,498

-42.78%

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

$28.38 SEK 275

$29.60 SEK 287

-4.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.74 SEK 356

$39.55 SEK 383

-7.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.70 SEK 355

$39.29 SEK 380

-6.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.36 SEK 207

$23.47 SEK 227

-8.99%

Cinema Ticket

$19.33 SEK 187

$17.81 SEK 172

8.53%

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

$157 SEK 1,524

$157 SEK 1,523

0.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,227 SEK 50.6K

$4,884 SEK 47.3K

7.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$95.5 SEK 925

$105 SEK 1,015

-8.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.96 SEK 406

$45.70 SEK 442

-8.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 SEK 880

$124 SEK 1,201

-26.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 SEK 1,187

$166 SEK 1,609

-26.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$815 SEK 7,894

$916 SEK 8,870

-11.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 SEK 5,849

$791 SEK 7,655

-23.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,480 SEK 14.3K

$1,702 SEK 16.5K

-13.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,133 SEK 11.0K

$1,378 SEK 13.3K

-17.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,787 SEK 36.7K

$4,179 SEK 40.5K

-9.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,478 SEK 24.0K

$3,318 SEK 32.1K

-25.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,016 SEK 29.2K

$3,148 SEK 30.5K

-4.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.87

4.86

0.21%

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

Last update for Vasteras: July 14, 2026

Last update for Malmo: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $815 in Vasteras versus $916 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 4% 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 $68.0 in Vasteras versus $83.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $412 – making Vasteras 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

Vasteras vs Malmo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Malmo costs about 18% more than Vasteras, 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 $2,638 per month in Vasteras and $3,121 in Malmo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $157 per month in Vasteras 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 15% 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 Vasteras, where all-in costs run around $1,759, than in Malmo at $2,081. In Vasteras it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malmo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Vasteras costs $1,759 versus $2,081 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 Vasteras. 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.