When I learnt I would be moving to Sweden for my masters it took a while to sink in. It was the first time I would be living so far away from home. Moving to a new country can always be stressful. It is kind of like starting from scratch. I assumed I would have a hard time fitting in and making friends.
But boy was I wrong!
Since moving here four years ago, I have met some lovely people, learnt to embrace the Swedish fika culture and long dark winters. Okay the last one can be a bit tricky sometimes but I am getting better at it!
Although I initially moved to Sweden to study at Lund University, Malmö captured my heart. The food, the vibe and the cultural diversity is what convinced me to move here after my graduation.
If you're also planning or dreaming up a move to Malmö, let me walk you through the good, the bad, the logistics, and the really fun.
Short on time? Here's the cheat sheet:
💭Living in Malmö means a high quality of life, if you're willing to pay for it.
🛂Many foreigners move here on a student visa, work visa, or a family visa.
🏠Two of the best areas to live in are Möllan and Gamla Stad.
🛏️I recommend staying at a hotel or apartment rental right when you arrive to house hunt in person. Book your stay at The More Hotel Mazetti to scope out Möllan, one of the most diverse areas of the city.
💰The cost of living will vary based on your lifestyle and which neighborhood you choose to live but in general will likely be more expensive than you're used to. Earn travel rewards on all expenses with a Capital One Venture Card.
☂️You'll have to deal with costly price tags and a long, dark winter...
☀️But the city is diverse, lively, and centrally located to explore other parts of the Nordic countries.
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A Brief Intro to Malmö
Located in southern Sweden, Malmö is the third biggest city in the country after Stockholm and Gothenburg. It is a melting pot of different ethnicities and home to more than 180 different nationalities. It is a well planned city with a laid back vibe.
Initially an industrial city, Malmö later became the home of Malmö University, attracting a lot of international students. The university along with the many startups and corporations in and around Malmö attract a lot of international population. This has helped accelerate the cultural diversity in the city.
A huge part of the population is young. Many of them are either students or young working adults.
A bonus is that Copenhagen is a 40 minute train ride away. A lot of the locals who live in Malmö work in Copenhagen taking advantage of the proximity between Sweden and Denmark.
So if you are looking to move to a multicultural city with amazing food (literally from all over the globe), beautiful parks and a great quality of life then Malmö is definitely for you!
4 Tips for Expats in Southern Sweden
The experience of moving to a new city is both exciting and challenging. And moving to Malmö is no different.
I want to start off by giving you a few tips that'll really help you settle into life in Malmö and help you make the most of your experience.
1. Learn the Language
A pro tip is to invest time in learning the language. Learning Swedish is an advantage as it increases your chances of finding a job. It will also help socialize better. I would highly recommend you do it if you plan to live in Sweden for the foreseeable future.
Depending on your goals, I recommend these apps/platforms for language learning:
- Drops: Use the free version of this app for 5-minutes of vocab lessons a day. This is good for improving vocab but little else.
- Mondly: If you want to have a little bit more practice, this app is similar to Duolingo but has less silly prompts and more realistic phrases and sentences.
- Babbel: Babbel is similar to Mondly but also teaches cultural tidbits during the language lesson.
- iTalki: If you're more serious about learning to speak the language, this platform allows you to have 1:1 or group lessons with native teachers.
2. Go By Bike
The city has well planned biking lanes and as a newbie, I would recommend you to rent a bike and explore. This gives you an idea of how accessible everything is.
Malmö is known to be a lively city. And it keeps up to its name. You have a lot of events happening all year round. Keep an eye on Facebook/Instagram to know what's happening near you. These events could be paid or free of cost.
3. Take Full Advantage of Summer
Summer is the best time to explore the city. The days are longer and nights are shorter. There are multiple food and cultural festivals with artists from around the world. You will also find people kayaking, hiking, swimming, exploring the city in rented boats through the canals etc.
During this time of year, the regional transport network also releases special passes. This allows you to take advantage of the local trains and buses in and around Malmö to explore the region.
South of Sweden has a lot of nature reserves. Don't forget to explore them this time of year!
Proximity to Denmark means you can also keep an eye on what’s happening in Copenhagen.
4. Eat Up!
Malmö is known for its diversity. And the best way to explore this is through its food.
From Swedish meatballs to middle eastern falafel, Japanese ramen to American bagels. There is no cuisine you won't find here.
You have a lot of expats running their own business in the city. Through these restaurants and cafes, you get an insight into their culture that they bring to this vibrant city.
Also, Denmark boasts of world class restaurants and cafes, giving fair competition to the food scene in Malmö.
Cost of living in Malmö
Compared to the rest of Europe, the cost of living is high in Sweden. Since initially moving here, the price of goods has definitely increased. With the Swedish krona taking a hit in recent years, basic necessities like groceries are definitely more expensive. Even the price of renting an apartment in a decent neighborhood has gone up.
To give you some perspective:
- A 3-course meal at a mid range restaurant can cost you more than 400 kr.
- The rent for a 3-bedroom apartment can easily cost you more than 15,000 SEK close to the city center.
For those living in the city especially families, it can be a bit hard (mostly true in cases with a single income). But it is still cheaper than the cities of Stockholm and Gothenburg.
Best Areas to Live in Malmö
Just a heads up, there's a queue system for long-term rentals in the city so you'll need to sign up for it as soon as you arrive. Use the waiting time to find the areas you'd most enjoy living in.
Some of the most popular neighborhoods to live in the city are:
Möllan
One of the most diverse parts of the city. Vibrant colorful streets bursting with life, restaurants and cafes. Södervärn and Nobelvägen are popular choices near Möllan. And apartments here can be rented at a much fairer price.
📍Book a hotel or vacation rental home to get a feel for this area before signing a long-term lease. Consider booking a stay at:
- Budget Stay: Shared Apartment: To save on accommodation, you can get started at this shared apartment where you'll have your own room and bathroom but a shared kitchen.
- Mid-Tier Stay: The More Hotel Mazetti: This hotel has a few different studios to choose from but the standard studio should be perfect for those staying a short time.
- Luxury Stay: En Trappa Upp: If you're moving to Malmö with your family or already know other people you could share a flat with to save costs, this 3-bedroom apartment should be ideal.
Gamla Staden
This is the historical part of the city. You also have Davidshall and Slottsstaden nearby. Between Gamla staden and Davidshall you find a lot of high end and mid range restaurants. Slottsstaden is known for its beautiful parks.
📍Book a hotel or vacation rental home to get a feel for this area before signing a long-term lease. Consider booking a stay at:
- Budget Stay: Best Western Hotel Royal: If you want to stay right in the heart of the historical center while still maintaining some sort of a budget, this will likely be your best bet.
- Mid-Tier Stay: Elite Hotel Esplanade: Located in a similar location as the Best Western, this hotel offers a nicer room and amenities for not much of a price difference.
- Luxury Stay: MJ's: For a stay where the historical charm of the neighborhood matches the interior, this is a unique choice.
Västra Hamnen
"The western harbor" is an artificial island close to the sea. It is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Malmö. Proximity to the beach means it comes alive in summer. You also find the sauna 'Kallbadhuset' at Ribersborg which is nearby.
📍Book a hotel or vacation rental home to get a feel for this area before signing a long-term lease. Consider booking a stay at:
- Budget Stay: The More Hotel Västra Ham: This is the same hotel chain as recommended above but for this neighborhood, if you opt for the standard studio, it's one of the most affordable places to stay.
- Mid-Tier Stay: The Homestay: If you're looking for a great place near the water, this homeshare is a nice choice. Here you'll have a private room for 3 and share the rest of the home with the owners.
- Luxury Stay: Rodergatan: Here you can choose between a basic room, studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartment based on your price point and how much space you'll need.
Augenstenborg
A part of the city that was rebuilt to be more sustainable. It is the perfect example of a neighborhood that has been developed to be more climate resilient.
It's quite hard to find a short-term rental in this area since the neighborhood is pretty small. I instead recommend simply visiting the area both during the day and at night to get a feel for it or staying somewhere nearby.
Visa Options
If you are an EU citizen, you have the right to work, study or live in Sweden without a residence permit.
For non-EU citizens (like me) you need to have a visa to visit or move to the country. Depending on the duration of your visit (less than or more than 90 days) you need to apply for the appropriate visa.
Some of the most common visa options are:
- Student visa
- Work visa
- Family visa
In my opinion, the easiest option to move here is with the help of a student visa. Sweden is known for its quality education and it also gives you an opportunity to explore the country. This will also help you understand if Sweden is the right choice for you. To know more about the requirements and processes involved check out the Migration agency's website here.
Pros & Cons of Living in Malmö
These are a few of the best and worst things about living in Malmö from my personal experience.
The pros include:
- High standard of living
- Low gender pay gap
- Experience different cultures
- Well planned out city with good public transport network
- Proximity to Copenhagen
- A family friendly city (lots of parks and a good education system)
- An attractive destination (high salary, good work-life balance)
And the biggest cons I've faced so far include:
- Possibility of experiencing loneliness
- High taxes and cost of living
- Rental prices are increasing (since the last 1-2 years)
Things to Know Before Moving Here
Alright, now that you know about the best areas to live in Malmö, a few tips to help you settle in, the cost of living, and my personal list of pros and cons, there are a few more things I want to leave you with.
While I've learned these things simply by being here, I do wish I was aware of them before making the move to give me a little heads up and help me adjust.
If this will be your first time living in Sweden, keep in mind:
- Although most Swedes speak fantastic English, it is an advantage to learn Swedish if you plan to work here. Also networking is your best bet to find a job. Go for job fairs and talk directly to recruiters.
- Be prepared for months of darkness. Letting the darkness affect you would be one of the worst things about living here. Instead, be sure to keep yourself occupied during the dark months.
- It is not easy to make friends. You need to be persistent and ready to socialize. Swedes are nice people but they never make the first move.
- Small talk always never happens! Be ready for awkward silences in the elevator or not knowing who lives next door. It is pretty common for people to not know their neighbors- this can feel strange in the beginning but eventually you can get used to it.
- A good quality of life means a high cost of living
- Finding an apartment/house is always hard when you are new. Cities in Sweden have a queue system so make sure to register as soon as you can!
- A common Swedish saying is- "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing." This means be ready for unpredictable weather. Although it doesn't snow a lot compared to other parts in Sweden, be prepared for unexpected rain and windy days.
- If you plan to live in Malmö and work in Copenhagen (since it is cheaper), you need to pay tax in Denmark. Also the possibility of doing so, depends on your nationality (especially for non EU citizens).
Will You Try Living in Malmö?
Although it's not all sunshine (literally), living in Malmö has been a really great choice for me. All cities come with their fair share of cons but to me, the pros of life here have outweighed those. Why not come give it a try!
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