Cost Of Living in Malmo 2025

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Malmo

Whether you're living in Malmo or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Malmo is 25,000 SEK. Expenses can range from 3,500 SEK at the minimum level to 170,000 SEK at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Malmo is 41,000 SEK. Expenditure can range from 14,000 SEK to 220,000 SEK per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Malmo is 55,000 SEK per month. Families spend anywhere from 19,000 SEK to 360,000 SEK.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Malmo is 18,000 SEK. Students spend from 2,800 SEK to 120,000 SEK per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Malmo

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Malmo is 70% This means that on average, people spend around 70% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 17% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
63%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

56%

71%

Couple
67%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

59%

75%

Family
74%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

65%

83%

How do people spend their money in Malmo?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Malmo typically spend from 14% to 33% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 25% being the average. The average spend on housing is 11,000 SEK with expenditure ranging from 830 SEK to 110,000 SEK. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Malmo ranges from 4% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 1,800 SEK with 140 SEK and 18,000 SEK being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 280 SEK to 36,000 SEK on commuting with 3,600 SEK being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 8% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 12%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Malmo is 9,000 SEK. The cost of groceries can range between 690 SEK to 90,000 SEK. People spend on average about 27% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 19% and 33% respectively.

People in Malmo allocate 4% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 190 SEK to 25,000 SEK with 2,500 SEK being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 110 SEK to 14,000 SEK with 1,400 SEK being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 3% to 9% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 6% of the monthly expenditure with 4% and 12% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 2,200 SEK per month with 170 SEK being the minimum spent amount and 22,000 SEK being the maximum.

How much money can you save in Malmo every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Malmo manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 56% of the surveyed people in Malmo said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 44% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Malmo

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 12% to 29% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 20% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 15,000 SEK on average with savings ranging from 1,100 SEK to 150,000 SEK.

63% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 59% of couples said the same. 55% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Malmo?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 15% to 31% of their monthly income to savings, with 23% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 10,000 SEK with 1,100 SEK and 68,000 SEK being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 13% to 30% of their monthly income, with 22% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 17,000 SEK with 5,700 SEK and 90,000 SEK being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Malmo can save anywhere between 11% to 27% of their monthly income, with 19% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 23,000 SEK with 7,900 SEK and 150,000 SEK being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Malmo

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Malmo. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 6% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 9% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 16% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 10% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 19% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 12% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for people in Malmo

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Malmo

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Malmo?

Around 66% of surveyed residents think that living in Malmo is affordable with proper budgeting while 34% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Malmo

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options52%

Few low-cost options48%

Based on the survey, 52% of the people living in Malmo have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 48% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents of Malmo whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes62%

No38%

Based on the survey, 38% of the people living in Malmo said that they don't have an emergency fund while 62% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Sweden

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy71%

We asked residents of Sweden whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 29% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 71% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of Sweden have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 31% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 69% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance31%

Easily manages finances69%

Financial goals of people in Malmo

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Malmo, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 7% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 37% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 9% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 8% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 17% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 8% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 9% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 11% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Malmo

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Malmo and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in Sweden is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents of Malmo about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Malmo

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Malmo

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 25% of the people in Malmo have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 75% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Malmo

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 23% of the people's monthly income in Malmo goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Malmo pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 14% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 13% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 15% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 13% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Malmo

11% of debtors in Malmo confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 27% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 19% of people and personal loans rose at 39%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Malmo.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Malmo

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents of Malmo how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Malmo

Rent Cost in Malmo

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

3,200 SEK

4,900 SEK

13,000 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$310

$470

$1,200

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

4,900 SEK

7,800 SEK

19,000 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$470

$750

$1,900

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

6,500 SEK

9,700 SEK

26,000 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$620

$940

$2,500

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

7,800 SEK

13,000 SEK

35,000 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$750

$1,200

$3,400

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

16,000 SEK

39,000 SEK

78,000 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,500

$3,700

$7,500

Townhouse monthly rent cost

13,000 SEK

19,000 SEK

56,000 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,200

$1,900

$5,300

House monthly rent cost

16,000 SEK

39,000 SEK

78,000 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,500

$3,700

$7,500

Villa monthly rent cost

19,000 SEK

49,000 SEK

78,000 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,900

$4,700

$7,500

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Malmo ranges between 3,200 SEK and 13,000 SEK, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 4,900 SEK to 19,000 SEK. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 6,500 SEK and 26,000 SEK per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 7,800 SEK to 35,000 SEK. The average rent of a townhouse in Malmo is around 19,000 SEK while house rental costs can be as high as 39,000 SEK per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 19,000 SEK to 78,000 SEK per month.

Apartment and house prices in Malmo

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

650,000 SEK

970,000 SEK

1.9M SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$62,000

$94,000

$190,000

1-bedroom apartment price

780,000 SEK

1.3M SEK

4.9M SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$75,000

$120,000

$470,000

2-bedroom apartment price

1.3M SEK

3.9M SEK

7.8M SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120,000

$370,000

$750,000

3-bedroom apartment price

4.3M SEK

6.5M SEK

19M SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$420,000

$620,000

$1.9M

Townhouse price

5.6M SEK

13M SEK

49M SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$530,000

$1.2M

$4.7M

House price

6.5M SEK

39M SEK

56M SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$620,000

$3.7M

$5.3M

Villa price

7.8M SEK

43M SEK

65M SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$750,000

$4.2M

$6.2M

The average price of a studio apartment in Malmo can range from 650,000 SEK to 1.9M SEK depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 780,000 SEK to 4.9M SEK. A villa can cost you 43M SEK on average with prices ranging from 7.8M SEK to 65M SEK.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Malmo can be x121 to x194 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x121 multiples of the average monthly salary in Malmo.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Malmo is around 29%. This means that people pay 29% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 38% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Malmo

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Malmo

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

210 SEK

1,500 SEK

9,900 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$20

$140

$960

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

550 SEK

1,900 SEK

12,000 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$53

$180

$1,200

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

970 SEK

2,800 SEK

18,000 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$93

$270

$1,700

Internet and cable cost

210 SEK

430 SEK

570 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$21

$41

$55

Mobile phone bill and charges

170 SEK

290 SEK

860 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$17

$28

$83

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Malmo ranges between 210 SEK and 9,900 SEK with average being 1,500 SEK, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 1,900 SEK with 550 SEK and 12,000 SEK being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 2,800 SEK. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 210 SEK to 570 SEK with 430 SEK being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 290 SEK but can range between 170 SEK and 860 SEK depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Malmo is around 3.5%. This means that people pay 3.5% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 0.90% to 6.9% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Malmo

Prices and cost of goods and services in Malmo

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

43 SEK

86 SEK

140 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.1

$8.3

$14

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Malmo is approximatly 86 SEK with meal cost ranging from 43 SEK to 140 SEK. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

140 SEK

200 SEK

410 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$20

$39

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 140 SEK and 410 SEK with 200 SEK being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Malmo.

Fine dining meal for one price

270 SEK

410 SEK

1,600 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$26

$39

$160

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 270 SEK to 1,600 SEK with the average cost being 410 SEK for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Malmo.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

36 SEK

57 SEK

86 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.4

$5.5

$8.3

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Malmo is around 57 SEK. Price ranges between 36 SEK and 86 SEK depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

29 SEK

34 SEK

43 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.8

$3.3

$4.1

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Malmo is 34 SEK. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 43 SEK and the minimum being 29 SEK depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

21 SEK

29 SEK

43 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.1

$2.8

$4.1

A dozen eggs costs around 29 SEK on average with 21 SEK and 43 SEK being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

49 SEK

63 SEK

90 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.7

$6.1

$8.6

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Malmo is between 49 SEK and 90 SEK depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 63 SEK.

Pack of beef price

57 SEK

86 SEK

170 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.5

$8.3

$17

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 86 SEK. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

23 SEK

32 SEK

45 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.2

$3

$4.3

A bag of rice in Malmo costs around 32 SEK on average with prices rangeing between 23 SEK and 45 SEK depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

8.6 SEK

11 SEK

21 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.83

$1.1

$2.1

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 8.6 SEK to 21 SEK. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

15 SEK

20 SEK

33 SEK

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.5

$1.9

$3.2

A bag of apples costs 20 SEK on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Malmo is around 21%. This means that people spend 21% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 14% to 26% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 4,000 SEK per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 570 SEK and 27,000 SEK depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 5,800 SEK per month. That number can be get as low as 1,900 SEK or a high as 31,000 SEK. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 3,500 SEK to 65,000 SEK with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Malmo

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Malmo

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Malmo

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Malmo