😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,495 in Barcelona versus $2,004 in Fagersta.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,550 in Barcelona versus $3,058 in Fagersta.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Barcelona versus $4,112 in Fagersta.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 24% more expensive than in Fagersta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona82% above, Fagersta46% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Fagersta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39€15.83
$14.76SEK 141
24.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.5
$67.9SEK 650
1.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.13€12.16
$10.44SEK 99.8
35.34%
Cappuccino
$3.13€2.70
$4.49SEK 42.92
-30.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.59
$2.74SEK 26.25
10.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$2.26SEK 21.66
-13.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.00€3.44
$7.41SEK 70.9
-46.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76€4.10
$7.44SEK 71.1
-36.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Fagersta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$1.84SEK 17.58
-32.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.86
$3.32SEK 31.74
-34.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69€1.45
$5.74SEK 55.0
-70.56%
Eggs
$4.93€4.24
$5.30SEK 50.7
-6.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.39
$14.27SEK 136
25.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61€8.27
$13.99SEK 134
-31.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.34€16.64
$17.85SEK 171
8.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24€2.78
$3.43SEK 32.83
-5.54%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.87
$2.78SEK 26.56
-21.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67€2.30
$2.09SEK 20.03
27.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77€2.39
$4.84SEK 46.31
-42.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.90
$1.55SEK 14.83
42.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19€1.88
$1.85SEK 17.71
18.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52€1.31
$2.34SEK 22.41
-35.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.79
$1.91SEK 18.25
-51.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12€6.13
$7.57SEK 72.4
-5.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.14€7.00
$10.65SEK 102
-23.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$2.06SEK 19.74
-27.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.39
$2.33SEK 22.25
19.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Fagersta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.15€2.71
$3.40SEK 32.55
-7.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.99€23.23
$81.5SEK 779
-66.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.25€2.80
$13.96SEK 134
-76.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50€1.29
$2.08SEK 19.87
-27.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.89€30.03
$85.2SEK 815
-59.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.50
$1.84SEK 17.58
-4.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.5K
$34.4KSEK 328.7K
6.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K€26.6K
$34.1KSEK 326.5K
-9.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Fagersta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€161
$182SEK 1,745
2.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.44€13.29
$27.85SEK 266
-44.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.80€32.52
$48.61SEK 465
-22.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Fagersta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.2€49.21
$39.46SEK 377
44.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80€14.45
$26.47SEK 253
-36.53%
Cinema Ticket
$11.58€9.96
$16.70SEK 160
-30.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Fagersta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,003€863
$231SEK 2,211
333.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0K€14.6K
$5,275SEK 50.5K
222.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Fagersta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2€76.8
$105SEK 1,008
-15.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.87€35.17
$55.1SEK 527
-25.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€94.6
$99.0SEK 947
11.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€106
$224SEK 2,143
-45.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Fagersta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,673€1,440
$839SEK 8,029
99.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331€1,146
$611SEK 5,847
117.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,596€2,234
$1,442SEK 13.8K
80.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,950€1,678
$1,089SEK 10.4K
79.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,573€6,517
$4,176SEK 39.9K
81.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,370€4,621
$2,944SEK 28.2K
82.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Fagersta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,402€2,067
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
3.2
-1.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Last update for Fagersta: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,673 in Barcelona and $839 in Fagersta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $68.0 in Fagersta. Groceries flip the comparison at $332 vs $405, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.
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 Fagersta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Fagersta?
Barcelona and Fagersta differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($2,495 vs $2,004 including rent). Fagersta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Fagersta?
You'd need roughly $3,743 in Barcelona and $3,007 in Fagersta to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Fagersta?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,673 in Barcelona versus $839 in Fagersta. 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 Fagersta?
Childcare runs $1,003 in Barcelona versus $231 in Fagersta. 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 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,004 in Fagersta versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Fagersta but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Fagersta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Fagersta?
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 Fagersta safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Fagersta 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 Fagersta?
Expats usually find Fagersta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.