🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $2,494 in Haugesund.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $3,746 in Haugesund.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $4,997 in Haugesund.
🙂Living in Barcelona costs roughly 6% less than in Haugesund, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, Haugesund86% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$21.22NOK 201
-19.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$100NOK 949
-30.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$13.77NOK 131
0.07%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$4.59NOK 43.60
-39.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$3.08NOK 29.27
-9.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$2.89NOK 27.42
-31.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$10.73NOK 102
-59.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$9.41NOK 89.3
-49.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$2.12NOK 20.10
-39.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$3.39NOK 32.22
-39.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$2.78NOK 26.35
-28.42%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$4.48NOK 42.52
-24.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$11.18NOK 106
68.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$14.81NOK 141
-36.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$27.94NOK 265
-31.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$3.08NOK 29.19
-12.34%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$2.17NOK 20.61
7.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$3.57NOK 33.91
-40.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$4.04NOK 38.34
-29.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$2.59NOK 24.61
-23.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$2.84NOK 27.00
-36.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$2.86NOK 27.15
-49.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$2.07NOK 19.64
-58.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$16.25NOK 154
-58.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$14.54NOK 138
-45.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$3.38NOK 32.04
-58.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$4.22NOK 40.07
-43.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$3.49NOK 33.14
-16.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$66.6NOK 632
-56.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$14.39NOK 137
-69.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$1.59NOK 15.11
28.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$54.6NOK 519
-45.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$2.20NOK 20.87
-17.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$34.9KNOK 331.3K
11.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$39.7KNOK 377.0K
-16.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$238NOK 2,260
-20.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$38.82NOK 369
-41.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$55.7NOK 529
-32.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$45.29NOK 430
27.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$36.08NOK 342
-42.52%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$16.78NOK 159
-35.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$285NOK 2,708
155.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$2,856NOK 27.1K
417.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$81.4NOK 773
8.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$56.4NOK 535
-34.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$94.5NOK 897
7.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$147NOK 1,393
-20.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$1,611NOK 15.3K
-2.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$1,039NOK 9,860
17.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$2,082NOK 19.8K
34.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$1,511NOK 14.3K
30.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$4,380NOK 41.6K
77.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$4,780NOK 45.4K
8.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$3,637NOK 34.5K
-35.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
3.98
-14.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Haugesund: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $1,611 in Haugesund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Haugesund pays 55% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $100 in Haugesund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $443 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 Haugesund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Haugesund?
Barcelona and Haugesund differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $2,494 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Haugesund earns 55% 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 Haugesund?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $1,611 in Haugesund. 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 Haugesund?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $285 in Haugesund. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Haugesund. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Barcelona is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Haugesund?
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 Haugesund safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Haugesund 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 Haugesund?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Haugesund. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.