Bilbao vs Malmo
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Malmo is approximately 19% less expensive than Bilbao based on cost of living including rent. This makes Malmo a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Malmo has a FIRE Score of 74/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 45.12, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Malmo is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowSpain
Bilbao
Sweden
Malmo
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Malmo
Malmo is the rare city where a $1,059/mo city center one-bedroom does not wreck your budget, especially with an average net salary of $3,016/mo and a cost of living index of 63/100. The trade-off is climate and scale: 327 thousand people, a temperate but gray winter, and a flat 6 m elevation that makes biking the obvious move on a $63/mo transit pass. With an 85/100 expat score, 87/100 digital nomad score, and English widely spoken, it beats most of Scandinavia on value. Come for the tech and startup scene, stay for Västra Hamnen and Möllevången, and accept that you are paying northern European prices for a mid-sized city.
About Sweden
Skip Sweden for retirement or digital nomad visas, which aren't offered: neither exists, and the top tax rate reaches 52.1%. This fits high earners chasing a clear citizenship path and top-tier healthcare (68.3 index, 82.7-year life expectancy) over near-term savings or easy entry.
Bilbao costs roughly 18% less than Malmo. Malmo has significantly faster average internet speeds (200 Mbps vs 150 Mbps). Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Malmo is approximately 19% less expensive than Bilbao based on cost of living including rent. This makes Malmo a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Malmo has a FIRE Score of 74/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 45.12, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Malmo is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Bilbao
Bilbao is a quietly excellent pick for expats who want a real city without big-capital prices, and a 54/100 cost of living index against an average monthly net salary of $2,394/mo tells you the math mostly works. Rent is the catch: $1,260/mo for a one-bedroom in the center is steep for a metro of 352 thousand, though moving outside the center drops it to $1,042/mo and a three-bedroom from $2,430/mo to $1,709/mo. Pair that with a safety index of 85/100, excellent healthcare, and a $50/mo transport pass, and you get a compact, walkable city that rewards anyone earning remotely or on a digital nomad visa.
About Spain
Retirees and remote workers get a genuine European base without the Northern Europe price tag: rent for a 1-bed outside the center averages $804/mo, well under NYC costs. Healthcare scores 77.3, life expectancy is among the highest in the EU, and a large expat community softens the medium English proficiency. The catch is tax: standard rates climb to 47%, though the Beckham Law flat 24% option changes the math for qualifying newcomers.
$1,183/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Malmo
Malmo is the rare city where a $1,059/mo city center one-bedroom does not wreck your budget, especially with an average net salary of $3,016/mo and a cost of living index of 63/100. The trade-off is climate and scale: 327 thousand people, a temperate but gray winter, and a flat 6 m elevation that makes biking the obvious move on a $63/mo transit pass. With an 85/100 expat score, 87/100 digital nomad score, and English widely spoken, it beats most of Scandinavia on value. Come for the tech and startup scene, stay for Västra Hamnen and Möllevången, and accept that you are paying northern European prices for a mid-sized city.
About Sweden
Skip Sweden for retirement or digital nomad visas, which aren't offered: neither exists, and the top tax rate reaches 52.1%. This fits high earners chasing a clear citizenship path and top-tier healthcare (68.3 index, 82.7-year life expectancy) over near-term savings or easy entry.
$1,381/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Bilbao | Malmo |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1259.7 | $1058.59 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1042.47 | $818.37 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2024.53 | $1736.17 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1528.42 | $1358.61 |
| Safety Index | 51.42 | 45.12 |
| Internet Speed | 150Mbps | 200Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Bilbao | Malmo |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,769/mo | $1,622/mo |
| Excluding rent | $727/mo | $804/mo |
| Rent | $1,042/mo | $818/mo |
| Groceries | $165/mo | $254/mo |
| Dining out | $213/mo | $150/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $106/mo | $136/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $193/mo | $201/mo |
| Transport | $50.00/mo | $63.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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