(edit title) Need to help to choose the best place. Gothenburg or Malmo? Options

[Roddy1]

Hello there,

I have moved to Sweden last year, I am living in a very small town in Smaland till I finish my SFI, then me and my girlfriend would like to move to a bigger city, but we want to avoid Stockholm because its to pricey and very hard to get a flat up there. So we need to decide between Malmo or Gothenburg. What do you guys suggests? Which is the best and friendly place to live between those two?

Many thanks in advance :-)

Roddy

[PDX]

I've stayed in all the three big cities. Göteborg definitely has an excellent atmosphere. But it is also a bit remote, so getting in or out means always flying (I flew even to Stockholm whenever I needed to).

Malmö's big advantage is the proximity to Copenhagen - you can just jump on the train without any advance planning and spend the night in Denmark. Several smaller but also somewhat interesting cities in Skåne are also within reasonable distance. Malmö itself I did not find particularly interesting, it's ok but lacks something.

~~~PDX~~~

[Roddy1]

Thanks

[Max Reaver]

Göteborg is known for the nice people there... I'd pick it over Malmö anytime!

[skogsbo]

The one where you both have or can get a job.
For me it would be gbg, 2 airports, port, road north, south and east, so you can strike out in all directions, the congestion charge fiasco would be my only annoyance with the place.

[tuborgian]

I'd second gothenburg as being a very nice place to live. The friendly locals are really friendly and their swedish is some what understandable! But, there are very few jobs here. As someone already pointed out there are smaller towns around and many people live in malmö and work in copenhagen (danish wages with swedish taxes...nice!).

[ljtaylor88]

I live in Göteborg and like it, though it rains a lot! (and here I thought I had escaped Manchester...) My sambo is Skånsk and personally does not like Malmö - he also says it misses something. I've never lived there myself but it seems nice enough. Proximity to Copenhagen increases your chances for jobs. Skåne is a really nice county, and income tax is slightly lower (around 28% to Göteborg's average of 32%). You can also work in Malmö and live in Lund which is much prettier little town.

If you like climbing and hiking and cycling (with a bike that can manage hills), Göteborg is great.

The problem is, as ever, the availability of jobs. It is tough in Göteborg. I know several expats who've moved here for a partner and been jobless for over a year. The housing queue in Göteborg is also gaining on Stockholm's in terms of ridiculousness. If I were you, I would send out your CV and register on Boplats in both places and see where you get lucky first. Lycka till!

[Roddy1]

Thanks a lot!

Everyone keep on telling me that people in Gothenburg are much nicer, happier and laid back. I have been to Malmo a few times, I kind of like it, specially because its close to Copenhagen but so many people have told me that is very very hard to get a job down there! So, I guess you are right, I will spend a week or so in each city and try my luck!

Have a good week :-)