😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $2,183 in Falun.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $3,284 in Falun.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $4,385 in Falun.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 6% more expensive than in Falun, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, Falun63% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$13.15SEK 127
34.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$68.7SEK 665
1.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$9.71SEK 94.0
45.83%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$4.57SEK 44.28
-38.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$1.88SEK 18.17
49.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$2.07SEK 20.06
-0.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$7.49SEK 72.6
-38.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$7.19SEK 69.6
-34.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.45SEK 14.01
-15.17%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$2.85SEK 27.60
-28.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$3.98SEK 38.57
-50.25%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$4.01SEK 38.87
-12.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$13.26SEK 128
38.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$10.35SEK 100
-5.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$15.97SEK 155
19.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$3.51SEK 34.01
-22.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$2.67SEK 25.81
-10.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.62SEK 15.67
28.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$5.65SEK 54.7
-51.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$1.50SEK 14.48
30.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$2.07SEK 20.06
-13.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$2.66SEK 25.74
-44.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$1.73SEK 16.77
-47.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$7.21SEK 69.8
-1.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$10.34SEK 100
-23.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.73SEK 16.74
-20.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$1.91SEK 18.45
25.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$4.89SEK 47.34
-38.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$99.1SEK 959
-70.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$8.54SEK 82.7
-48.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$1.64SEK 15.92
29.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$74.9SEK 725
-60.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.95SEK 18.87
-6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$38.6KSEK 374.0K
-1.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$33.6KSEK 325.3K
-3.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$89.0SEK 862
112.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$27.89SEK 270
-20.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$36.42SEK 353
2.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$70.0SEK 678
-17.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$25.08SEK 243
-17.62%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$15.64SEK 151
-30.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$143SEK 1,384
393.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$748SEK 7,240
1887.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$105SEK 1,017
-14.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$43.23SEK 419
-15.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$117SEK 1,134
-11.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$158SEK 1,533
-24.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$1,249SEK 12.1K
26.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$932SEK 9,021
32.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$1,972SEK 19.1K
37.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$1,580SEK 15.3K
29.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$4,087SEK 39.6K
84.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$2,856SEK 27.7K
83.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$2,638SEK 25.5K
-10.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4
-15.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Falun: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $1,249 in Falun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Falun pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $69.0 in Falun. Groceries flip the comparison at $320 vs $356, 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 Falun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Falun?
Barcelona and Falun differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $2,183 including rent). Falun 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 12% lower in Falun. 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 Falun?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $1,249 in Falun. 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 Falun?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $143 in Falun. 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 11% 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 $2,183 in Falun versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Falun but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Falun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Falun?
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 Falun safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Falun 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 Falun?
Expats usually find Falun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.