Which place is cheaper, Malmo or Riga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Riga or Malmo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga or Malmo? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Riga or Malmo?
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
Malmo
Located on the southern tip of Sweden, in the province of Skane, Malmo is Sweden's third largest city. It has a very international population with about a third of the residents being from countries other than Sweden. This diversity is evident within Malmo, which is rich in culture, interesting food, and an array of entertainment options. Historically, Malmo was an industrial city with a ship building company, Kockums being the area's largest employer. Today, however, the city is much more economicaly diverse with many eco friendly neighborhoods and plenty of suburban style housing.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Sweden, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Sweden.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €104Malmo €76
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €104, while the average daily cost in Malmo is €76. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Riga and Malmo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €53Malmo €45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €106Malmo €90
Compare Hotels in Riga and Malmo
Looking for a hotel in Riga or Malmo? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Riga Hotel Prices and Malmo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €15Malmo €7.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Transfer from Riga International Airport to Downtown: $267
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $138
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $108
- Riga Gun Experience: Roundtrip Transfer and 4 Firearms: $131
- Riga City to Riga Airport - Private Transfer: $52
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $39
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $39
- Riga Airport to Riga City - Private Transfer: $52
- Riga Airport to Hotel Transfer: $27
- Riga Airport to City Center Private Transfers: $59
- Riga Airport Transfer: $33
- Riga - Tallin: Transfer and Tour through beautiful landmarks: $487
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Malmo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Malmo:
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Malmö Bus Card€17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malmo
Also for Malmo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Malmo City Center to Malmo Airport (MMX) - Departure Private Transfer: $27
- Malmo Airport (MMX) to Malmo City Center - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Malmo Airport (MMX) to Malmo City Center - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
- Malmo Private Transfer from Malmo airport to Central Malmo : $95
- Malmo Private Transfer from Central Malmo to Malmo Airport: $95
- Private Transfer from Malmo Airport MMX to Fredericia Port: $96
- Private Direct Transfer From Malmo to Copenhagen: $121
- Malmö City to Copenhagen hotel/address Private Departure Transfer: $128
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Malmo?
Prices for flights to both Malmo and Riga change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayRiga €33Malmo €24
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch€5.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $42
- Unique Food Tour: $52
- Medieval Guided Tour & Three-Course Dinner Experience: $96
- Riga Medieval Dinner: $114
- Private Cooking Master Class In The Latvian Family : $131
- Taste Market Tour & Cooking Masterclass: $138
- Cooking Experience with Chef: Learn & Dine: $139
- Latvian Food: Cooking Masterclass with a Chef: $152
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Malmo
For Malmo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Self-guided Food Tour in Malmö: $59
- Guided Food Tour in Malmö (Private): $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Riga €21Malmo €15
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- The best of Bauska walking tour: $75
- 1 Day Riga Sightseeing Red Bus Grand Tour: $27
- 2.5-Hour Riga Cruiser Bike Tour: $41
- 3-Hour Private Paintball Game Experience in Zīles: $86
- 5 Hour Shared Tour to Hill of Crosses from Riga: $82
- ATV Quad Off Road or City Tour in Riga: $142
- Beer Bike Experience : $36
- Best of Riga Walking Tour: $181
- Best of Riga Walking Tour - Highlights and Hidden Gems: $66
- City:canal:tour: $21
- Crafted Cocktails: A Masterclass Experience: $80
- Daily Bike Tour in Riga with Professional Guide: $44
Tours and Activities in Malmo
For Malmo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Lund's Medieval and Modern History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Self-guided audio tour in Lund: explore the story of the Locus Peccatorum murder: $9.35
- Malmö Ghost Story: A self-guided audio walking tour: $9.35
- Canal Sightseeing Boat Tour of Malmö: $21
- Half Day Walking Tour in Lund City and University: $33
- Malmö Photography Tour: $58
- Malmo Walking Tour, 3 hours (small group): $66
- Joyful Malmo Walking Tour for Couples: $147
- Exploring Malmo Walking Tour: $147
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRiga €20Malmo €33
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $25
- Pub Crawl in Riga: $33
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $37
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $37
- Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $54
- Riga Beer Killer Bar Crawl: $55
- Latvian Wine Tasting & Monk Show: $75
- Old Town Sightseeing & Latvian Wine Tasting with Show: $96
- Riga Pub Crawl & Party Bus Tour: $523
- Yacht Tour with Medieval Banquet and Wine Tasting: $3,320
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Riga and Malmo, we can see that Riga is more expensive. And not only is Malmo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Malmo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Malmo and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Riga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Riga than you might in Malmo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Riga Expensive? and Is Malmo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Malmo?
Riga has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Malmo. When comparing the sizes of Riga and Malmo, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Riga or Malmo?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Riga or Malmo in the Summer?
Both Malmo and Riga during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Riga for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Riga is around the same temperature as Malmo in the summer. The daily temperature in Riga averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Malmo fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
Riga usually gets more rain in July than Malmo. Riga gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRiga 17°C (63°F)Malmo 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Riga or Malmo in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Malmo. Many visitors come to Riga in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Riga is cooler than Malmo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Riga in October average around 7°C (45°F), and Malmo averages at about 10°C (50°F).
In October, Riga usually receives more rain than Malmo. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRiga 7°C (45°F)Malmo 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Riga or Malmo in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Riga as well as Malmo. Most visitors come to Riga for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Malmo can be very cold. Riga can be very cold during winter. In January, Riga is generally much colder than Malmo. Daily temperatures in Riga average around -5°C (23°F), and Malmo fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).
Riga usually gets less rain in January than Malmo. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRiga -5°C (23°F)Malmo 0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Riga or Malmo in the Spring?
Both Malmo and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Riga because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Riga is around the same temperature as Malmo in the spring. The daily temperature in Riga averages around 5°C (42°F) in April, and Malmo fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).
In April, Riga usually receives more rain than Malmo. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRiga 5°C (42°F)Malmo 5°C (42°F)
Typical Weather for Malmo and Riga
| Riga | Malmo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.