Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Falun Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Falun

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,495 in Barcelona versus $2,211 in Falun.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,550 in Barcelona versus $3,364 in Falun.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Barcelona versus $4,517 in Falun.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 13% more expensive than in Falun, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 82% above, Falun 61% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39 €15.83
$13.32 SEK 127
38.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2 €59.5
$68.8 SEK 658
0.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.13 €12.16
$9.24 SEK 88.4
52.92%
Cappuccino
$3.13 €2.70
$4.33 SEK 41.43
-27.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.59
$1.97 SEK 18.89
53.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 €1.69
$2.02 SEK 19.28
-2.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.00 €3.44
$7.46 SEK 71.3
-46.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 €4.10
$7.20 SEK 68.9
-33.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 €1.07
$1.41 SEK 13.45
-11.35%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 €1.86
$3.00 SEK 28.71
-28.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 €1.45
$4.13 SEK 39.49
-59.08%
Eggs
$4.93 €4.24
$4.55 SEK 43.50
8.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.88 €15.39
$13.34 SEK 128
34.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.61 €8.27
$10.50 SEK 100
-8.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 €16.64
$18.06 SEK 173
7.09%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 €2.78
$3.31 SEK 31.63
-2.11%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 €1.87
$2.76 SEK 26.38
-21.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.67 €2.30
$2.14 SEK 20.49
24.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.77 €2.39
$4.88 SEK 46.68
-43.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 €1.90
$1.55 SEK 14.80
42.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 €1.88
$1.89 SEK 18.03
15.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 €1.31
$2.39 SEK 22.90
-36.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 €0.79
$2.00 SEK 19.15
-54.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12 €6.13
$7.55 SEK 72.2
-5.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.14 €7.00
$10.42 SEK 99.7
-21.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$2.07 SEK 19.81
-27.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 €2.39
$2.43 SEK 23.22
14.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.15 €2.71
$4.62 SEK 44.18
-31.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.99 €23.23
$95.4 SEK 913
-71.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 €2.80
$8.28 SEK 79.2
-60.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.50 €1.29
$2.05 SEK 19.65
-26.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.89 €30.03
$77.0 SEK 736
-54.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 €1.50
$1.77 SEK 16.90
-1.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K €31.5K
$34.3K SEK 328.4K
6.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K €26.6K
$34.6K SEK 331.2K
-10.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 €161
$140 SEK 1,335
34.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.44 €13.29
$27.61 SEK 264
-44.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.80 €32.52
$41.37 SEK 396
-8.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 €49.21
$69.8 SEK 668
-18.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 €14.45
$26.83 SEK 257
-37.38%
Cinema Ticket
$11.58 €9.96
$16.91 SEK 162
-31.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,003 €863
$230 SEK 2,199
336.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.0K €14.6K
$5,356 SEK 51.2K
217.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2 €76.8
$105 SEK 1,000
-14.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.87 €35.17
$53.0 SEK 507
-22.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 €94.6
$99.9 SEK 956
10.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €106
$214 SEK 2,049
-42.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,673 €1,440
$1,252 SEK 12.0K
33.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,331 €1,146
$929 SEK 8,890
43.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,596 €2,234
$1,988 SEK 19.0K
30.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 €1,678
$1,579 SEK 15.1K
23.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,573 €6,517
$4,283 SEK 41.0K
76.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,370 €4,621
$2,901 SEK 27.7K
85.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Falun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,402 €2,067
$3,026 SEK 28.9K
-20.61%
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 Falun: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,673 in Barcelona and $1,252 in Falun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Falun pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $69.0 in Falun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $370 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 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 13% in total monthly costs ($2,495 vs $2,211 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 26% 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: $1,673 in Barcelona versus $1,252 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 $1,003 in Barcelona versus $230 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 $2,211 in Falun versus $2,495 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 13% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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