Gothenburg vs Malmö
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Gothenburg leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Malmö where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Malmö's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Gothenburg | Malmö |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 65 | 66 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 46 | 47 |
| Climate | 84 | 87 |
| Safety | 67 | 68 |
| Summer °C | 16.2 | 17.1 |
| Winter °C | -1.1 | 0.2 |
| Top disaster risk | flooding | flooding |
Gothenburg vs Malmö: the short answer
Malmö comes out ahead on overall livability (66/100), only marginally above Gothenburg (65/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Malmö is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Gothenburg 46 vs Malmö 47, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Malmö runs warmer in summer (about 17.1°C peak vs 16.2°C in Gothenburg), while winter lows sit near -1.1°C in Gothenburg and 0.2°C in Malmö. On natural-disaster exposure Malmö is the safer choice (safety 68/100); the dominant modelled hazard is flooding for Gothenburg and flooding for Malmö.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Malmö — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Malmö — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Malmö — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Malmö — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Gothenburg or Malmö better to live in?
Malmö scores higher overall — 66 vs 65 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Gothenburg or Malmö?
Malmö has the lower cost of living (cost index 47 vs 46; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Gothenburg or Malmö?
Malmö — summer highs reach about 17.1°C versus 16.2°C in Gothenburg.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Gothenburg or Malmö?
Malmö (disaster-safety 68/100). Main hazard: flooding in Gothenburg, flooding in Malmö.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Gothenburg?
flooding is the dominant modelled hazard for Gothenburg on our risk index.
How is the Gothenburg vs Malmö comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.