😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $2,194 in Elverum.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $3,483 in Elverum.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $4,773 in Elverum.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 8% more expensive than in Elverum, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Elverum65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Elverum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$22.48NOK 213
-23.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$101NOK 954
-32.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$11.42NOK 108
19.44%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$4.52NOK 42.87
-38.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$3.50NOK 33.21
-19.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$3.04NOK 28.86
-35.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$10.78NOK 102
-58.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$7.95NOK 75.4
-42.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Elverum
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$1.09NOK 10.34
16.51%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$3.53NOK 33.47
-39.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$3.98NOK 37.71
-50.00%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$1.87NOK 17.71
80.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$7.04NOK 66.7
169.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$12.10NOK 115
-21.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$25.56NOK 242
-26.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$1.02NOK 9.68
159.80%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$2.88NOK 27.31
-18.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.54NOK 14.57
35.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$1.56NOK 14.84
75.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$1.00NOK 9.47
96.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.03NOK 9.81
75.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$2.56NOK 24.25
-41.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$2.53NOK 23.96
-64.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$14.54NOK 138
-53.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$17.88NOK 170
-55.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$3.79NOK 35.95
-63.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$4.85NOK 45.99
-50.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Elverum
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$4.28NOK 40.61
-32.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$72.9NOK 691
-60.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$15.06NOK 143
-69.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$2.27NOK 21.52
-10.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$88.5NOK 839
-67.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$2.13NOK 20.15
-14.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$31.6KNOK 299.6K
24.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$34.8KNOK 329.7K
-6.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Elverum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$103NOK 975
81.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$42.59NOK 404
-47.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$64.6NOK 612
-43.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Elverum
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$49.93NOK 473
15.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
$35.18NOK 334
-41.05%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$12.25NOK 116
-12.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Elverum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$322NOK 3,055
124.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$8,523NOK 80.8K
77.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Elverum
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$111NOK 1,051
-20.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$48.37NOK 459
-23.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$130NOK 1,232
-20.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$129NOK 1,223
-8.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Elverum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$1,219NOK 11.6K
25.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$890NOK 8,435
37.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$1,856NOK 17.6K
46.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$1,517NOK 14.4K
30.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$5,934NOK 56.3K
25.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$4,051NOK 38.4K
29.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Elverum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
$4,066NOK 38.6K
-41.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.32
-21.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Elverum: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $1,219 in Elverum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Elverum pays 70% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $101 in Elverum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $374 per month, with Barcelona cheaper across the board.
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
Barcelona vs Elverum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Elverum?
Barcelona and Elverum differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $2,194 including rent). Elverum is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 70% lower in Elverum. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Elverum?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $1,219 in Elverum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Elverum?
Childcare runs $725 in Barcelona versus $322 in Elverum. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 17% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $2,194 in Elverum versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Elverum but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Elverum the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Elverum?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Elverum safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Elverum are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Elverum?
Expats usually find Elverum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.