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