Cost of Living Comparison Between Alesund and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Alesund and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,242 per month in Alesund vs $2,367 in Barcelona, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,326 per month in Alesund vs $3,465 in Barcelona, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,409 per month in Alesund vs $4,563 in Barcelona, rent included.

Alesund is about 5% cheaper than Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Alesund and Barcelona sit above the global median – Alesund by 67%, Barcelona by 77%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alesund
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.85 NOK 184
$17.58 €15.12
12.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.4 NOK 794
$68.4 €58.9
24.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.95 NOK 120
$14.06 €12.09
-7.89%
Cappuccino
$3.95 NOK 36.66
$2.78 €2.39
42.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 NOK 18.79
$2.80 €2.41
-27.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 NOK 20.32
$2.06 €1.78
6.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.94 NOK 102
$4.46 €3.84
145.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.25 NOK 85.9
$4.61 €3.96
100.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alesund
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.39 NOK 22.22
$1.24 €1.07
92.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.95 NOK 27.39
$2.03 €1.74
45.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.89 NOK 26.82
$1.92 €1.65
50.52%
Eggs
$3.99 NOK 37.02
$3.31 €2.85
20.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.13 NOK 131
$18.43 €15.85
-23.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.66 NOK 127
$9.49 €8.16
43.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.52 NOK 209
$19.16 €16.48
17.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.74 NOK 25.45
$2.64 €2.27
3.79%
Banana (1kg)
$2.33 NOK 21.63
$2.45 €2.11
-4.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 NOK 20.09
$2.12 €1.82
1.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.68 NOK 34.19
$2.85 €2.45
29.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.69 NOK 24.96
$2.04 €1.75
31.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.73 NOK 16.05
$1.85 €1.59
-6.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.80 NOK 26.05
$1.47 €1.26
90.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 NOK 19.89
$0.84 €0.73
154.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.59 NOK 126
$7.14 €6.14
90.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.84 NOK 175
$7.88 €6.78
139.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.28 NOK 30.49
$1.38 €1.19
137.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24 NOK 39.40
$2.31 €1.99
83.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Alesund
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.53 NOK 42.09
$2.98 €2.56
52.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.5 NOK 609
$29.26 €25.17
123.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.10 NOK 112
$4.60 €3.95
163.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.07 NOK 19.26
$2.07 €1.78
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$73.6 NOK 684
$29.18 €25.10
152.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 NOK 20.35
$1.84 €1.58
19.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K NOK 334.2K
$39.0K €33.6K
-7.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.3K NOK 402.3K
$32.7K €28.1K
32.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alesund
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$242 NOK 2,251
$188 €162
28.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.19 NOK 364
$22.93 €19.73
70.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.94 NOK 380
$36.71 €31.58
11.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alesund
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 NOK 539
$57.4 €49.35
1.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.85 NOK 277
$20.70 €17.80
44.20%
Cinema Ticket
$17.00 NOK 158
$11.19 €9.63
51.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alesund
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 NOK 2,468
$721 €620
-63.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,461 NOK 22.9K
$15.0K €12.9K
-83.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alesund
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.1 NOK 781
$86.2 €74.2
-2.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.85 NOK 407
$37.07 €31.89
18.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 NOK 1,022
$102 €87.8
7.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 NOK 1,264
$116 €99.7
17.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alesund
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$968 NOK 8,988
$1,534 €1,319
-36.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$782 NOK 7,262
$1,220 €1,050
-35.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,384 NOK 12.9K
$2,696 €2,319
-48.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,166 NOK 10.8K
$2,013 €1,732
-42.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,672 NOK 43.4K
$7,220 €6,211
-35.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,516 NOK 23.4K
$5,189 €4,463
-51.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alesund
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,349 NOK 40.4K
$2,359 €2,029
84.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.03
3.39
18.88%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alesund: May 30, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $968 in Alesund versus $1,534 in Barcelona. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 84% higher in Alesund, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Alesund versus $68.0 in Barcelona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $425 vs $318 – making Barcelona the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Alesund vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Alesund and Barcelona compare in cost of living?
Barcelona costs about 6% more than Alesund, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
What salary covers living expenses in Alesund compared to Barcelona?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,363 per month in Alesund and $3,550 in Barcelona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Alesund and Barcelona?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Alesund, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Alesund and $68.0 in Barcelona. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Alesund or Barcelona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,242 in Alesund and $2,367 in Barcelona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Alesund, where all-in costs run around $2,242, than in Barcelona at $2,367. In Alesund it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barcelona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Alesund and Barcelona?
It depends on your priorities. Barcelona has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,242 in Alesund to $2,367 in Barcelona. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Alesund or Barcelona safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Alesund and Barcelona?
If budget matters most, go with Alesund. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Barcelona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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