Cost of Living: Bali vs Malmo (2026)

Indonesia vs Sweden — relocation comparison

TL;DRBali is safer — homicide rate 0.3 vs 1.1 per 100k. Malmo scores 9.4 vs 6.8 on democracy. Both cities will charge you about the same to exist.
65
Livability Score
🇮🇩 Bali
Indonesia
Full profile
73
Livability Score
🇸🇪 Malmo
Sweden
Full profile
Malmo edges ahead 73 to 65. Bali isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you.
🔒
Safety
Bali
0.3 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Malmo
9.4/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
29°C vs 20°C summers
🗣️
English
Malmo
higher proficiency score
Bali
Metric
Malmo
$1082/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1092/mo
$268/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$692/mo
$2,914
🧳
Cost to land
$2,979
0.3 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
1.1 / 100k
51 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
55 / 100
29°C
☀️
Summer high
20°C
25°C
❄️
Winter low
-1°C
36 Mbps
Internet speed
84 Mbps
6.8 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
9.4 / 10
Moderate (41/100)
🗣️
English ease
Very High (86/100)
$16k
💼
GDP per capita
$72k
2.2%
📈
Inflation
2.8%
65 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
73 / 100
60/100 — Patchy
Grid reliability
82/100 — Mostly stable
56/100
🗽
Freedom House
99/100
5 years
📋
Time to PR
5 years

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

369
PISA
country avg
488
15
Intl schools
9
Yes, but limited for foreigners (Indonesian)
Public school
Yes (Swedish)
Pediatric care
Free for all children; excellent child health clinics (BVC)
Specialist wait
4–12 weeks
$498/mo
Childcare
full-day
$185/mo
capped*

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
tourismhospitalitydigital-nomadsurfing-culture
Industries
biotechgamingictcleantech
nascent
Startup ecosystem
active
60/100
Grid reliability
82/100
5 yrs
Time to PR
5 yrs
Easy
EU visa
Easy
Easy
RU visa
Complex
Easy
UA visa
Easy
Your partner gets to watch you work
Spouse works
Your partner can also work

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 1% cheaper in Bali ($1082/mo vs $1092/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are dramatically warmer in Bali (29°C vs 20°C).
  • Bali is safer by homicide rate (0.3 vs 1.1 per 100k).
  • Malmo scores higher on democracy (9.4 vs 6.8 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Malmo (86/100 vs 41/100 English proficiency).

Bali vs Malmo — Common Questions

Is Bali cheaper than Malmo?

Bali is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1082/month in Bali vs $1092/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Bali or Malmo?

Bali is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Bali has a rate of 0.31 per 100,000 and Malmo has 1.10 per 100,000.

Should I move to Bali or Malmo?

Malmo edges ahead 73 to 65. Bali isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Bali or Malmo?

Bali: Indonesia Second Home Visa (complex process, 5 or 10 years). Malmo: Sweden Self-Employment Permit (complex process, 2 years (renewable)). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Bali or Malmo?

Bali is warmer in summer (29°C vs 20°C). Malmo has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Can I live in Bali or Malmo without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Malmo (EF EPI score: 86/100) than in Bali (41/100). In Malmo, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Bali, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

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