Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Malmo 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Malmo is 5.8% lower than in Chicago, IL (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Malmo is 23.6% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
| Rent Prices in Malmo are 52.7% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
| Restaurant Prices in Malmo are 8.5% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
| Groceries Prices in Malmo are 10.5% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Malmo is 12.3% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
Restaurants | Chicago, IL Edit |
Malmo Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
20.00 $ (178.50 kr) |
16.81 $ (150.00 kr) |
-16.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
100.00 $ (892.51 kr) |
84.70 $ (756.00 kr) |
-15.3 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
13.50 $ (120.49 kr) |
13.45 $ (120.00 kr) |
-0.4 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
7.00 $ (62.48 kr) |
8.96 $ (80.00 kr) |
+28.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
9.00 $ (80.33 kr) |
8.96 $ (80.00 kr) |
-0.4 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
5.56 $ (49.61 kr) |
5.35 $ (47.74 kr) |
-3.8 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.06 $ (27.35 kr) |
3.43 $ (30.59 kr) |
+11.8 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
2.29 $ (20.45 kr) |
2.51 $ (22.43 kr) |
+9.7 % |
Markets | Chicago, IL Edit |
Malmo Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
1.29 $ (11.47 kr) |
1.87 $ (16.73 kr) |
+45.8 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
3.78 $ (33.74 kr) |
2.92 $ (26.08 kr) |
-22.7 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
2.43 $ (21.73 kr) |
1.70 $ (15.21 kr) |
-30.0 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
5.55 $ (49.58 kr) |
4.46 $ (39.79 kr) |
-19.7 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
6.48 $ (57.80 kr) |
6.48 $ (57.80 kr) |
-0.0 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
6.77 $ (60.38 kr) |
6.29 $ (56.11 kr) |
-7.1 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
7.96 $ (71.04 kr) |
10.75 $ (95.95 kr) |
+35.1 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
2.42 $ (21.61 kr) |
1.59 $ (14.16 kr) |
-34.5 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
0.83 $ (7.36 kr) |
1.32 $ (11.79 kr) |
+60.1 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
1.76 $ (15.68 kr) |
1.53 $ (13.70 kr) |
-12.6 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
2.02 $ (18.03 kr) |
2.27 $ (20.23 kr) |
+12.2 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
1.15 $ (10.30 kr) |
0.91 $ (8.10 kr) |
-21.3 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1.17 $ (10.45 kr) |
0.82 $ (7.36 kr) |
-29.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
2.46 $ (21.93 kr) |
2.73 $ (24.37 kr) |
+11.1 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
2.68 $ (23.89 kr) |
1.41 $ (12.63 kr) |
-47.1 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
15.00 $ (133.88 kr) |
12.82 $ (114.40 kr) |
-14.5 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
3.02 $ (26.99 kr) |
2.44 $ (21.79 kr) |
-19.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.51 $ (31.31 kr) |
2.73 $ (24.38 kr) |
-22.1 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
17.00 $ (151.73 kr) |
8.74 $ (78.00 kr) |
-48.6 % |
Transportation | Chicago, IL Edit |
Malmo Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
2.50 $ (22.31 kr) |
3.59 $ (32.00 kr) |
+43.4 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
75.00 $ (669.38 kr) |
71.04 $ (634.00 kr) |
-5.3 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
3.25 $ (29.01 kr) |
6.61 $ (59.00 kr) |
+103.4 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
2.25 $ (20.08 kr) |
4.42 $ (39.43 kr) |
+96.3 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
25.00 $ (223.13 kr) |
67.23 $ (600.00 kr) |
+168.9 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
0.99 $ (8.86 kr) |
1.92 $ (17.13 kr) |
+93.4 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
36,531.00 $ (326,042.83 kr) |
36,963.17 $ (329,900.00 kr) |
+1.2 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
26,411.35 $ (235,723.97 kr) |
37,149.91 $ (331,566.67 kr) |
+40.7 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Chicago, IL Edit |
Malmo Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
166.32 $ (1,484.46 kr) |
158.84 $ (1,417.64 kr) |
-4.5 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
70.94 $ (633.19 kr) |
28.87 $ (257.69 kr) |
-59.3 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
67.33 $ (600.96 kr) |
39.22 $ (350.06 kr) |
-41.8 % |
Sports And Leisure | Chicago, IL Edit |
Malmo Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
70.01 $ (624.84 kr) |
46.21 $ (412.42 kr) |
-34.0 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
29.00 $ (258.87 kr) |
33.89 $ (302.50 kr) |
+16.9 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
16.77 $ (149.67 kr) |
20.11 $ (179.50 kr) |
+19.9 % |
Childcare | Chicago, IL Edit |
Malmo Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
1,872.22 $ (16,709.77 kr) |
190.47 $ (1,700.00 kr) |
-89.8 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
34,884.29 $ (311,345.74 kr) |
3,787.07 $ (33,800.00 kr) |
-89.1 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Chicago, IL Edit |
Malmo Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
61.13 $ (545.62 kr) |
110.55 $ (986.71 kr) |
+80.8 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
53.08 $ (473.72 kr) |
54.74 $ (488.54 kr) |
+3.1 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
100.35 $ (895.61 kr) |
126.04 $ (1,124.95 kr) |
+25.6 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
153.53 $ (1,370.27 kr) |
175.21 $ (1,563.77 kr) |
+14.1 % |
Rent Per Month | Chicago, IL Edit |
Malmo Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
2,469.32 $ (22,038.91 kr) |
1,099.75 $ (9,815.38 kr) |
-55.5 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
1,671.17 $ (14,915.33 kr) |
926.78 $ (8,271.57 kr) |
-44.5 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
4,750.00 $ (42,394.23 kr) |
1,989.86 $ (17,759.67 kr) |
-58.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
2,931.35 $ (26,162.62 kr) |
1,570.48 $ (14,016.67 kr) |
-46.4 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Chicago, IL Edit |
Malmo Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
350.04 $ (3,124.12 kr) |
429.52 $ (3,833.55 kr) |
+22.7 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
236.15 $ (2,107.67 kr) |
334.05 $ (2,981.39 kr) |
+41.5 % |
Salaries And Financing | Chicago, IL Edit |
Malmo Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
5,076.41 $ (45,307.47 kr) |
3,398.96 $ (30,336.05 kr) |
-33.0 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.62 | 3.08 | -53.4 % |
| Last update: | 13 February 2026 | 2 February 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 167 | 38 | |
Moving to Chicago, IL? Explore:
Moving to Malmo? Explore:
Cities near Chicago, IL: | Cost of Living in Oak Park, Illinois | 9.14 miles |
| Cost of Living in Evanston, Illinois | 14.20 miles |
| Cost of Living in La Grange Park, Illinois | 15.03 miles |
| Cost of Living in Franklin Park, Illinois | 16.69 miles |
| Cost of Living in Des Plaines, Illinois | 20.82 miles |
| Cost of Living in Addison, Illinois | 22.10 miles |
| Cost of Living in East Chicago, Indiana | 23.76 miles |
| Cost of Living in Wheaton, Illinois | 25.81 miles |
| Cost of Living in Arlington Heights, Illinois | 27.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bolingbrook, Illinois | 29.21 miles |
Cities near Malmo: | Cost of Living in Lund | 10.87 miles |
| Cost of Living in Helsingborg | 40.38 miles |
| Cost of Living in Orkelljunga | 65.01 miles |
| Cost of Living in Almhult | 85.98 miles |
| Cost of Living in Karlskrona | 127.65 miles |
| Cost of Living in Gothenburg | 168.03 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kalmar | 176.63 miles |
| Cost of Living in Jonkoping | 181.42 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hogsby | 205.90 miles |