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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,719 per month in Vasteras vs $2,047 in Malmo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,758 per month in Vasteras vs $3,170 in Malmo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,797 per month in Vasteras vs $4,292 in Malmo, rent included.

Vasteras is about 16% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vasteras and Malmo sit above the global median – Vasteras by 28%, Malmo by 53%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vasteras
Malmo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.87 SEK 140
$13.48 SEK 127
10.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4 SEK 643
$85.6 SEK 804
-20.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 SEK 97.5
$12.67 SEK 119
-18.07%
Cappuccino
$4.45 SEK 41.79
$5.05 SEK 47.48
-11.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 SEK 26.55
$2.69 SEK 25.24
5.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 SEK 23.41
$2.15 SEK 20.21
15.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.85 SEK 73.7
$8.00 SEK 75.2
-1.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.33 SEK 68.9
$8.20 SEK 77.1
-10.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vasteras
Malmo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 SEK 14.99
$1.67 SEK 15.72
-4.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 SEK 25.04
$3.11 SEK 29.19
-14.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.79 SEK 35.57
$3.61 SEK 33.93
4.99%
Eggs
$4.07 SEK 38.21
$4.42 SEK 41.49
-7.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.74 SEK 110
$12.05 SEK 113
-2.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.59 SEK 118
$12.78 SEK 120
-1.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.73 SEK 148
$27.50 SEK 258
-42.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 SEK 31.27
$3.27 SEK 30.69
1.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.59 SEK 24.33
$2.78 SEK 26.12
-6.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.59 SEK 33.73
$3.24 SEK 30.45
10.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.79 SEK 35.60
$4.79 SEK 44.97
-20.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 SEK 14.54
$1.83 SEK 17.19
-15.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 SEK 18.79
$1.95 SEK 18.34
2.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.71 SEK 25.41
$2.57 SEK 24.14
5.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 SEK 16.26
$1.34 SEK 12.58
29.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.26 SEK 68.2
$8.13 SEK 76.4
-10.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.39 SEK 135
$12.10 SEK 114
18.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 SEK 13.18
$2.53 SEK 23.75
-44.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 SEK 17.73
$2.66 SEK 24.96
-28.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Vasteras
Malmo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.45 SEK 32.43
$3.36 SEK 31.58
2.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.2 SEK 688
$69.3 SEK 651
5.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.71 SEK 34.89
$6.44 SEK 60.5
-42.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 SEK 15.45
$2.64 SEK 24.80
-37.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$85.6 SEK 804
$56.2 SEK 528
52.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.96 SEK 18.37
$1.92 SEK 18.04
2.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9K SEK 309.0K
$33.1K SEK 310.7K
-0.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K SEK 327.2K
$33.8K SEK 317.4K
3.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vasteras
Malmo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.0 SEK 855
$154 SEK 1,442
-40.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.29 SEK 275
$30.36 SEK 285
-3.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.93 SEK 347
$40.38 SEK 379
-8.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vasteras
Malmo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.70 SEK 345
$38.30 SEK 360
-4.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74 SEK 195
$23.78 SEK 223
-12.78%
Cinema Ticket
$19.27 SEK 181
$17.81 SEK 167
8.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vasteras
Malmo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$156 SEK 1,463
$162 SEK 1,518
-3.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,313 SEK 49.9K
$4,876 SEK 45.8K
8.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vasteras
Malmo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.1 SEK 884
$105 SEK 983
-10.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.89 SEK 393
$45.70 SEK 429
-8.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 SEK 879
$124 SEK 1,166
-24.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 SEK 1,170
$165 SEK 1,552
-24.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vasteras
Malmo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$824 SEK 7,743
$932 SEK 8,751
-11.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$591 SEK 5,551
$773 SEK 7,264
-23.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,480 SEK 13.9K
$1,721 SEK 16.2K
-14.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,124 SEK 10.6K
$1,343 SEK 12.6K
-16.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,944 SEK 37.0K
$4,311 SEK 40.5K
-8.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,666 SEK 25.0K
$3,360 SEK 31.6K
-20.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vasteras
Malmo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,207 SEK 30.1K
$3,353 SEK 31.5K
-4.35%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Malmo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $824 in Vasteras versus $932 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 5% 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 $86.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $365 vs $410 – 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
Which city is more expensive, Vasteras or Malmo?
Malmo costs about 19% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Vasteras vs Malmo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,579 per month in Vasteras and $3,071 in Malmo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Vasteras or Malmo?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Vasteras and Malmo?
Kindergarten costs $156 per month in Vasteras and $162 in Malmo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Vasteras or Malmo?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Malmo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Vasteras or Malmo?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Vasteras, where all-in costs run around $1,719, than in Malmo at $2,047. In Vasteras it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malmo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Vasteras or Malmo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Vasteras costs $1,719 versus $2,047 in Malmo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Vasteras compared to Malmo?
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.
Should I move to Vasteras or Malmo?
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.

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