πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,728 in HΓ€ssleholm.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $2,799 in HΓ€ssleholm.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $3,871 in HΓ€ssleholm.
πLiving in Barcelona is roughly 35% more expensive than HΓ€ssleholm, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, HΓ€ssleholm29% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Barcelona
HΓ€ssleholm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08β¬14.72
$13.91SEKΒ 131
22.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2β¬59.7
$91.6SEKΒ 860
-24.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78β¬11.87
$10.71SEKΒ 100
28.66%
Cappuccino
$2.76β¬2.37
$4.33SEKΒ 40.61
-36.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79β¬2.40
$1.02SEKΒ 9.59
173.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99β¬1.72
$2.63SEKΒ 24.63
-24.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36β¬3.76
$7.39SEKΒ 69.3
-41.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74β¬4.09
$7.89SEKΒ 74.0
-39.92%
π Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
HΓ€ssleholm
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29β¬1.11
$1.39SEKΒ 13.03
-7.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05β¬1.77
$2.99SEKΒ 28.04
-31.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99β¬1.71
$3.23SEKΒ 30.26
-38.39%
Eggs
$3.39β¬2.92
$3.30SEKΒ 30.95
2.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81β¬16.21
$11.00SEKΒ 103
71.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36β¬8.07
$12.56SEKΒ 118
-25.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12β¬16.48
$18.39SEKΒ 173
3.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70β¬2.32
$3.19SEKΒ 29.93
-15.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34β¬2.02
$2.66SEKΒ 24.98
-12.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12β¬1.83
$3.04SEKΒ 28.53
-30.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85β¬2.46
$4.31SEKΒ 40.40
-33.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97β¬1.70
$1.64SEKΒ 15.39
20.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80β¬1.55
$1.87SEKΒ 17.51
-3.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45β¬1.25
$2.20SEKΒ 20.61
-34.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86β¬0.74
$1.62SEKΒ 15.18
-46.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78β¬5.84
$7.87SEKΒ 73.8
-13.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90β¬6.81
$7.83SEKΒ 73.4
0.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39β¬1.20
$1.64SEKΒ 15.38
-15.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37β¬2.04
$2.07SEKΒ 19.37
14.49%
π Getting Around
Barcelona
HΓ€ssleholm
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92β¬2.52
$3.12SEKΒ 29.30
-6.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69β¬24.72
$85.5SEKΒ 802
-66.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46β¬3.84
$10.34SEKΒ 97.0
-56.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05β¬1.77
$1.57SEKΒ 14.77
30.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55β¬25.46
$61.9SEKΒ 580
-52.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82β¬1.56
$1.86SEKΒ 17.43
-2.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8Kβ¬33.5K
$32.9KSEKΒ 308.6K
18.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1Kβ¬28.5K
$34.6KSEKΒ 324.3K
-4.26%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
HΓ€ssleholm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189β¬163
$73.6SEKΒ 690
157.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80β¬19.65
$25.84SEKΒ 242
-11.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59β¬32.39
$21.00SEKΒ 197
79.00%
π Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
HΓ€ssleholm
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7β¬49.75
$44.69SEKΒ 419
29.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74β¬17.87
$24.88SEKΒ 233
-16.64%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82β¬9.33
$15.44SEKΒ 145
-29.92%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
HΓ€ssleholm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728β¬628
$176SEKΒ 1,651
313.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kβ¬12.7K
$4,151SEKΒ 38.9K
255.82%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
HΓ€ssleholm
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6β¬76.4
$88.9SEKΒ 834
-0.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85β¬31.75
$40.12SEKΒ 376
-8.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102β¬87.9
$98.7SEKΒ 926
3.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116β¬100
$154SEKΒ 1,441
-24.41%
π Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
HΓ€ssleholm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569β¬1,352
$853SEKΒ 8,003
83.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218β¬1,050
$647SEKΒ 6,071
88.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795β¬2,409
$1,395SEKΒ 13.1K
100.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975β¬1,702
$1,099SEKΒ 10.3K
79.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754β¬6,680
$4,911SEKΒ 46.1K
57.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176β¬4,460
$2,766SEKΒ 25.9K
87.13%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
HΓ€ssleholm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343β¬2,019
$2,349SEKΒ 22.0K
-0.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.33
-21.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for HΓ€ssleholm: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $853 in HΓ€ssleholm. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°HΓ€ssleholm pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $92.0 in HΓ€ssleholm for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $351 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 HΓ€ssleholm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and HΓ€ssleholm?
Barcelona and HΓ€ssleholm differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,728 including rent). HΓ€ssleholm is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, HΓ€ssleholm earns 0% less. 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 HΓ€ssleholm?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $853 in HΓ€ssleholm. 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 HΓ€ssleholm?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $176 in HΓ€ssleholm. 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 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,728 in HΓ€ssleholm versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in HΓ€ssleholm but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes HΓ€ssleholm the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and HΓ€ssleholm?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or HΓ€ssleholm safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and HΓ€ssleholm 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 HΓ€ssleholm?
Expats usually find HΓ€ssleholm gentler on the wallet β expenses run 35% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.