Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Haugesund Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Haugesund

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $2,493 in Haugesund.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $3,755 in Haugesund.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $5,017 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: Barcelona 75% above, Haugesund 86% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61 €15.08
$21.11 NOK 197
-16.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7 €58.8
$102 NOK 949
-32.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.75 €11.77
$13.84 NOK 129
-0.65%
Cappuccino
$2.76 €2.36
$4.76 NOK 44.32
-42.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 €2.38
$3.10 NOK 28.89
-10.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 €1.75
$2.94 NOK 27.44
-30.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.61 €3.94
$10.69 NOK 99.6
-56.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 €3.93
$9.37 NOK 87.3
-51.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 €1.10
$2.14 NOK 19.96
-40.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 €1.81
$3.40 NOK 31.68
-37.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 €1.69
$2.92 NOK 27.20
-32.53%
Eggs
$3.44 €2.95
$4.63 NOK 43.13
-25.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.83 €16.12
$11.45 NOK 107
64.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.45 €8.09
$14.62 NOK 136
-35.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.01 €16.27
$28.26 NOK 263
-32.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 €2.33
$3.09 NOK 28.77
-11.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.37 €2.03
$2.07 NOK 19.33
14.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 €1.78
$3.73 NOK 34.80
-44.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 €2.36
$4.27 NOK 39.76
-35.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 €1.69
$2.68 NOK 24.98
-26.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 €1.53
$2.81 NOK 26.18
-36.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 €1.29
$2.89 NOK 26.90
-47.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 €0.77
$2.11 NOK 19.68
-57.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76 €5.79
$16.36 NOK 152
-58.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.55 €6.46
$14.81 NOK 138
-49.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 €1.23
$3.44 NOK 32.06
-58.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 €2.06
$4.26 NOK 39.71
-43.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.03 €2.59
$3.64 NOK 33.88
-16.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.39 €24.30
$65.9 NOK 614
-56.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.43 €3.79
$13.89 NOK 130
-68.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 €1.76
$1.52 NOK 14.16
34.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.33 €25.11
$55.4 NOK 516
-47.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 €1.62
$2.24 NOK 20.83
-15.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K €33.2K
$35.2K NOK 328.5K
9.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K €27.7K
$40.3K NOK 375.9K
-19.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €161
$239 NOK 2,229
-21.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21 €19.01
$37.95 NOK 354
-41.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82 €31.52
$55.7 NOK 519
-33.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 €49.64
$44.63 NOK 416
29.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99 €17.97
$35.42 NOK 330
-40.74%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05 €9.46
$16.32 NOK 152
-32.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$726 €622
$289 NOK 2,694
151.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K €13.0K
$2,876 NOK 26.8K
429.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3 €75.6
$81.2 NOK 757
8.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98 €31.66
$54.7 NOK 510
-32.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €87.8
$93.1 NOK 868
10.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €102
$147 NOK 1,371
-18.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,526 €1,307
$1,648 NOK 15.4K
-7.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 €1,043
$1,043 NOK 9,720
16.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,794 €2,392
$2,061 NOK 19.2K
35.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,027 €1,735
$1,541 NOK 14.4K
31.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,094 €6,073
$4,555 NOK 42.5K
55.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,849 €4,151
$4,752 NOK 44.3K
2.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,404 €2,058
$3,882 NOK 36.2K
-38.06%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Haugesund: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $1,648 in Haugesund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Haugesund pays 61% 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 $102 in Haugesund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $448 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 6% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $2,493 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 61% 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: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $1,648 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 $726 in Barcelona versus $289 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 40% higher in Haugesund. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,341 in Barcelona versus $2,493 in Haugesund, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Haugesund. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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 6% less than in Haugesund. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Barcelona vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities