Which place is cheaper, Malmo or Rovaniemi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rovaniemi or Malmo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Rovaniemi and Malmo. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Rovaniemi or Malmo?
Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, in northern Finland. Almost totally destroyed during World War II, today it's a modern city known for being the "official" home town of Santa Claus, and for viewing the Northern Lights. It's home to Arktikum, a museum and science center exploring the Arctic region and the history of Finnish Lapland. The Science Centre Pilke features interactive exhibits on northern forests.
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 The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Finland, 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 dayRovaniemi €174Malmo €76
The average daily cost (per person) in Rovaniemi is €174, 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 Rovaniemi and Malmo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRovaniemi €93Malmo €45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRovaniemi €186Malmo €90
Compare Hotels in Rovaniemi and Malmo
Looking for a hotel in Rovaniemi 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: Rovaniemi Hotel Prices and Malmo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rovaniemi €31Malmo €7.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rovaniemi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rovaniemi:
- VIP Private Transfer in Rovaniemi : $163
- Transfer from Rovaniemi to Helsinki: $1,918
- Transfer Rovaniemi - Levi by private van: $576
- Transfer Rovaniemi - Kakslautanen by private van: $766
- Transfer Rovaniemi - Ivalo by private van: $863
- Trip to Santa Claus Village with Hotel Transfer: $86
- Santa Claus Village Tour with Transfer: $86
- Santa Claus Village Guided Tour with Transfer: $77
- Rovaniemi Private Transfer from Rovaniemi city centre to Rovaniemi airport: $87
- Rovaniemi Private Transfer from Rovaniemi (RVN) Airport to City centre: $87
- Rovaniemi Private City Transfer by Luxury Vehicule : $83
- Rovaniemi Northern Light Hunt with Campfire and BBQ with Transfer: $86
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 Airport (MMX) to Malmo City Center - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Malmo City Center to Malmo Airport (MMX) - Departure Private Transfer: $27
- Malmö City to Kastrup hotel/address - Private Car Transfer: $46
- Malmo Airport (MMX) to Malmo City Center - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $54
- Malmo Private Transfer from Central Malmo to Malmo Airport: $95
- Malmo Private Transfer from Malmo airport to Central Malmo : $95
- Private Transfer from Malmo City to Fredericia Cruise Port: $96
- Private Direct Transfer From Malmo to Copenhagen: $121
- Malmö City to Copenhagen hotel/address Private Departure Transfer: $127
Is it cheaper to fly into Rovaniemi or Malmo?
Prices for flights to both Malmo and Rovaniemi 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 dayRovaniemi €47Malmo €24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rovaniemi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rovaniemi.
- Snow Restaurant Dinner Tour: $115
- Lappish Cooking Master Class: $133
- Lappish Cooking Master Class: $147
- From SnowHotel Aurora Experience with Dinner: $148
- Best Of Lapland: Sauna, Ice swimming, Dinner & Northern Lights : $168
- Private Sauna, Jacuzzi and Dinner: $176
- Northern Lights dinner in a Glass Igloo: $234
- Aurora Borealis Dinner in a Glass Igloo: $234
- PRIVATE Party dinner in a Glass Igloo Under Northern Lights : $239
- PRIVATE Glass Igloo Dinner Under Northern Lights : $239
- Private Glass Igloo Dinner on the Shore of Frozen Lake: $244
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rovaniemi €48Malmo €15
Tours and Activities in Rovaniemi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Rovaniemi are as follows:
- 1-Hour Snowmobile Safari Adventure in Rovaniemi: $106
- 1-Hour Snowmobile Safari Experience : $97
- 5-Hour Tour to Ranua Zoo: $119
- All Day Canoe Adventure to Rovaniemi: $206
- Arctic Animals Combo Safari, Reindeer and Husky Adventure: $190
- Arctic Polar Bear Adventure with Lunch in Rovaniemi!: $140
- Arctic Reindeer Farm & Husky Safari + Aurora BBQ Tour!: $216
- Aurora Hunting Guarantee Tour with Photography: $270
- Aurora Hunting Photo Tour from Rovaniemi with Pickup: $110
- Aurora Hunting Pro Tour: $205
- Aurora Hunting Pro Tour With Photography: $212
- Aurora Magic Cabin Overnight Experience: $959
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: $9.27
- Malmö Ghost Story: A self-guided audio walking tour: $9.27
- Skip the Line: Disgusting Food Museum Entrance Ticket: $21
- 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 dayRovaniemi €21Malmo €33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rovaniemi and Malmo, we can see that Rovaniemi 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 Rovaniemi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rovaniemi 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 Rovaniemi Expensive? and Is Malmo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rovaniemi or Malmo?
Malmo has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Rovaniemi. When comparing the sizes of Rovaniemi 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 Rovaniemi 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 Rovaniemi or Malmo in the Summer?
Both Malmo and Rovaniemi during the summer are popular places to visit.
In July, Rovaniemi is generally around the same temperature as Malmo. Daily temperatures in Rovaniemi average around 15°C (60°F), and Malmo fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
In Malmo, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Rovaniemi. In the summer, Rovaniemi often gets more sunshine than Malmo. Rovaniemi gets 304 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Malmo receives 247 hours of full sun.
Rovaniemi usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Malmo. Rovaniemi gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRovaniemi 15°C (60°F)Malmo 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Malmo in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Rovaniemi and Malmo.
Rovaniemi can be very cold during autumn. Rovaniemi is much colder than Malmo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rovaniemi averages around 2°C (36°F) in October, and Malmo fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Rovaniemi usually receives less sunshine than Malmo during autumn. Rovaniemi gets 82 hours of sunny skies, while Malmo receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Rovaniemi usually receives more rain than Malmo. Rovaniemi gets 64 mm (2.5 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 OctoberRovaniemi 2°C (36°F)Malmo 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Malmo in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Rovaniemi as well as Malmo.
It's quite cold in Malmo in the winter. The weather in Rovaniemi can be very cold. In the winter, Rovaniemi is much colder than Malmo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rovaniemi in January average around -12°C (10°F), and Malmo averages at about 0°C (32°F).
In the winter, Rovaniemi often gets less sunshine than Malmo. Rovaniemi gets 19 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Malmo receives 36 hours of full sun.
Rovaniemi usually gets more rain in January than Malmo. Rovaniemi gets 44 mm (1.7 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 JanuaryRovaniemi -12°C (10°F)Malmo 0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Malmo in the Spring?
Both Malmo and Rovaniemi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
It's quite cold in Rovaniemi in the spring. In April, Rovaniemi is generally much colder than Malmo. Daily temperatures in Rovaniemi average around -1°C (31°F), and Malmo fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).
Rovaniemi usually receives more sunshine than Malmo during spring. Rovaniemi gets 194 hours of sunny skies, while Malmo receives 173 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Rovaniemi usually receives less rain than Malmo. Rovaniemi gets 29 mm (1.1 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 AprilRovaniemi -1°C (31°F)Malmo 5°C (42°F)
Typical Weather for Malmo and Rovaniemi
| Rovaniemi | Malmo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -12°C (10°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) |
| Feb | -12°C (11°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | -7°C (19°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | -1°C (31°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 6°C (43°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (56°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 8°C (46°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Oct | 2°C (36°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | -4°C (24°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | -10°C (15°F) | 42 mm (1.7 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.