Malmo, Sweden's Copenhagen Connection
I'm off to Malmo, Sweden this weekend for a Xmas party. As you can see I'm very excited about it as I've mentioned it three times now.(I don't get out much). I'll be telling you all about it upon my return. In the meantime, I thought I'd find out a little bit more about my destination.
Perhaps many people picture blonde haired, blue eyed Nordic types when they think of Sweden but Malmo disputes that myth. Located in southern Sweden, Malmo is an international city that boasts 270,000 residents who speak some 100 languages and belong to 164 different nationalities.(Interesting statistics..I didn't know that).
Malmo University, which opened almost 10 years ago is Sweden's latest addition which is helping revamp the city's image from that of an "industrial city" to "one of knowledge." Malmo is very easy to reach by plane, train or automobile. We'll be taking the train from Copenhagen(paid for by my generous employer) which runs 24/7 and will take 35 minutes at a cost 90 Dkr for adults and 45 Dkr for children.Taking a car costs 290 Dkr each way.
The Danish Connection
Perhaps you have heard of the Turning Torso(a modern work of architectural genius which stands 190 metres/623 foot high) and the Oresund Bridge which connects Sweden to Denmark.There are however, many other attractions to see in Malmo. The Equestrian Statue of King Karl X Gustav, who took Skåne from the Danes through the Roskilde Treaty of 1658, stands in the midst of the largest square in Malmo. There is also Malmohus Castle, built by Danish King Christian II, which started in 1537 and was completed in 1542. When Malmo became Swedish in 1658, it no longer served as a royal castle and was used as a prison until 1914.
In the past few years, many Danes have been swarming over to Malmo in droves in order to take advantage of the cheaper living conditions. Although the prices of houses are rising over in Sweden, the average cost of a home over there is still 1,2 million Dkr cheaper than in Denmark..
All is not perfect in paradise though. The price of apartments/condos in Copenhagen has dropped in the past year, making it a buyer's market for those Danes interested in remaining in their homeland at a reasonable price. The Swedes are worried that this price drop will spread like a virus to major Swedish cities like Malmo, Stockholm and Goteborg, affecting their apartment prices as well.
There has also been some controversy over the Danish invasion to Sweden because the Danes residing in cities like Malmo are driving house prices up, making it more difficult for the native Swede to compete.(Wages are generally higher in Denmark).
To add fuel to the fire, Danes living in Sweden but working in Denmark do not pay taxes to Sweden. However, the tax advantage could all change very soon as a change in the property tax laws for Danes working in Denmark while living can Sweden can mean that their property tax will double in the near future.
What's "good for the goose is good for the gander," as they say and the Swedes have been taking advantage of the easy access to Denmark as well. More and more Swedes are working in Denmark while living in Sweden, approximately 800 more than last year because Denmark's shortage of workers is creating more jobs and higher wages.
