A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Turku vs. Malmo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Turku or Malmo?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Turku or Malmo, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Turku or Malmo?

Turku

Turku, a city on the southwest coast of Finland, straddles the Aura River. Dating from the 13th century, it's known for Turku Castle, a medieval fortress with a history museum, perched at the river mouth. Restaurants line the cobbled riverside streets. On the eastern bank lies the Old Great Square, a former trade hub, surrounded by grand buildings. The nearby Turku Cathedral houses a royal tomb and a museum. The historic castle and cathedral point to the city's rich cultural history when it was the Finnish capital, and contemporary Turku is full of experimental art and vibrant festivals, thanks in part to its spirited university population (the country's second largest), who make Turku's nightlife young and fun. As the first city many visitors encounter arriving by ferry from Sweden and Aland, it's a splendid introduction to the Finnish mainland.

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 Luxury Tours to Finland, The Best Budget Tours to Finland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Sweden, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Sweden.


Which place is cheaper, Malmo or Turku?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Turku is €136, while the average daily cost in Malmo is €77. 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 Turku and Malmo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Turku 76
    Malmo 45
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Turku 152
    Malmo 90
Compare Hotels in Turku and Malmo

Looking for a hotel in Turku 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.

Hotels in Turku


Hotels in Malmo


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: Turku Hotel Prices and Malmo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Turku 44
    Malmo 7.47

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Turku

Also for Turku, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • One-Way Helicopter Transfer to Helsinki Airport (HEL): $2,145
  • Turku Private Transfer from Turku city centre to Turku airport: $74
  • Turku Private Transfer from Turku (TKU) Airport to City centre: $74

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Malmo

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Malmo:


  • Malmö Bus Card
    17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malmo

Also for Malmo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Malmö City to Copenhagen hotel/address Private Departure Transfer: $129
  • Private Direct Transfer From Malmo to Copenhagen: $123
  • Private Transfer from Malmo City to Fredericia Cruise Port: $97
  • Private Transfer from Malmo Airport MMX to Fredericia Port: $97
  • Malmo Private Transfer from Central Malmo to Malmo Airport: $96
  • Malmo Private Transfer from Malmo airport to Central Malmo : $96
  • Malmo Airport (MMX) to Malmo City Center - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
  • Malmö City to Kastrup hotel/address - Private Car Transfer: $46
  • Malmo City Center to Malmo Airport (MMX) - Departure Private Transfer: $28

Is it cheaper to fly into Turku or Malmo?

Prices for flights to both Malmo and Turku 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Turku 32
    Malmo 24

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: $60

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Turku 22
    Malmo 15

Tours and Activities in Turku

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Turku.

  • Archipelago tour with Soling sailboat: $315
  • Inspiring Turku - Walking Tour: $132
  • Inspiring Turku - Walking Tour: $531
  • Turku Archipelago: Sea Kayaking Day Tour: $119
  • Turku Christmas Delights Walking Tour: $777
  • Turku Enchanting Romantic Walking Tour: $669

Tours and Activities in Malmo

For Malmo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Canal Sightseeing Boat Tour of Malmö: $22
  • Exploring Malmo Walking Tour: $149
  • Half Day Walking Tour in Lund City and University: $34
  • Joyful Malmo Walking Tour for Couples: $149
  • Lund's Medieval and Modern History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Malmö Ghost Story: A self-guided audio walking tour: $7.78
  • Malmö Photography Tour: $61
  • Malmo Walking Tour, 3 hours (small group): $67
  • Self-guided audio tour in Lund: explore the story of the Locus Peccatorum murder: $7.78

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Turku 12
    Malmo 33


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Turku and Malmo, we can see that Turku 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 Turku would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Turku 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 Turku Expensive? and Is Malmo Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Turku or Malmo?

Malmo has a larger population, and is about 49% larger than the population of Turku. When comparing the sizes of Turku 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 Turku or Malmo?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Turku or Malmo in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Turku and Malmo.

Turku is around the same temperature as Malmo in the summer. The daily temperature in Turku averages around 16°C (61°F) in July, and Malmo fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Malmo this time of the year. In Turku, it's very sunny this time of the year. Turku usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Malmo during summer. Turku gets 262 hours of sunny skies, while Malmo receives 247 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Turku usually receives more rain than Malmo. Turku gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Turku 16°C (61°F) 
    Malmo 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit Turku or Malmo in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Turku as well as Malmo.

In the autumn, Turku is much colder than Malmo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Turku in October average around 6°C (43°F), and Malmo averages at about 10°C (50°F).

In the autumn, Turku often gets less sunshine than Malmo. Turku gets 90 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Malmo receives 104 hours of full sun.

Turku usually gets more rain in October than Malmo. Turku gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Turku 6°C (43°F) 
    Malmo 10°C (50°F)

Should I visit Turku or Malmo in the Winter?

Both Malmo and Turku are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.

Malmo can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Turku. In January, Turku is generally much colder than Malmo. Daily temperatures in Turku average around -6°C (20°F), and Malmo fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

Turku usually receives more sunshine than Malmo during winter. Turku gets 39 hours of sunny skies, while Malmo receives 36 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Turku usually receives more rain than Malmo. Turku gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Turku -6°C (20°F) 
    Malmo 0°C (32°F)

Should I visit Turku or Malmo in the Spring?

Both Malmo and Turku during the spring are popular places to visit.

Turku can get quite cold in the spring. Turku is much colder than Malmo in the spring. The daily temperature in Turku averages around 3°C (37°F) in April, and Malmo fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).

In the spring, Turku often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Malmo. Turku gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Malmo receives 173 hours of full sun.

Turku usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Malmo. Turku gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Turku 3°C (37°F) 
    Malmo 5°C (42°F)

Typical Weather for Malmo and Turku

Turku Malmo
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -6°C (20°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 0°C (32°F) 37 mm (1.4 in)
Feb -7°C (20°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) -0°C (32°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Mar -3°C (27°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 2°C (35°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 3°C (37°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 5°C (42°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
May 9°C (49°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 11°C (51°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Jun 14°C (58°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 15°C (59°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
Jul 16°C (61°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 17°C (62°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Aug 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.2 in) 17°C (62°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Sep 10°C (51°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 14°C (57°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Oct 6°C (43°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 10°C (50°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Nov 1°C (33°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 6°C (42°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Dec -4°C (25°F) 57 mm (2.3 in) 2°C (36°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)