The end of mass Malmö migration?

Many Danes living in Malmö are returning to their homeland

Since the opening of the Øresund Bridge in 2000, Danish families have been migrating across the strait to Malmö in favour of considerably cheaper real estate and automobiles, and, for international couples, less rigid immigration laws.

With comparatively high salaries from their jobs in Copenhagen and a strong currency exchange rate, many chose to commute between the two cities.

Lately, however, the trend has been declining, with many Danes choosing to move back to their homeland. According to a study by Nykredit, 180 Danes moved back to Copenhagen from Malmö in 2012, and the total number of Danes in the southern Swedish city has decreased by 720 since 2010.

Nykredit attributes these moves with the considerable decrease in Danish real estate prices the past few years, while others have speculated that the recent easing of Denmark’s immigration laws are driving less people into Sweden.

Jeppe Jensen cited the hassle of commuting as his biggest reason for putting his Malmö apartment up for sale and making the move back to Copenhagen.

“The commute is the main reason for me to move back,” the 26-year-old told Swedish online publication lokaler.nu. “You have to cross the Øresund Bridge everyday and often the trains are delayed. Then you’re sitting on the wrong side of the sound.  I also miss my family and friends in Copenhagen.”




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