🙂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: Barcelona75% above, Haugesund86% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$21.11NOK 197
-16.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$102NOK 949
-32.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$13.84NOK 129
-0.65%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$4.76NOK 44.32
-42.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$3.10NOK 28.89
-10.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$2.94NOK 27.44
-30.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$10.69NOK 99.6
-56.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$9.37NOK 87.3
-51.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$2.14NOK 19.96
-40.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$3.40NOK 31.68
-37.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$2.92NOK 27.20
-32.53%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$4.63NOK 43.13
-25.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$11.45NOK 107
64.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$14.62NOK 136
-35.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$28.26NOK 263
-32.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$3.09NOK 28.77
-11.97%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$2.07NOK 19.33
14.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$3.73NOK 34.80
-44.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$4.27NOK 39.76
-35.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$2.68NOK 24.98
-26.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$2.81NOK 26.18
-36.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$2.89NOK 26.90
-47.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$2.11NOK 19.68
-57.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$16.36NOK 152
-58.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$14.81NOK 138
-49.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$3.44NOK 32.06
-58.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$4.26NOK 39.71
-43.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$3.64NOK 33.88
-16.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$65.9NOK 614
-56.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$13.89NOK 130
-68.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$1.52NOK 14.16
34.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$55.4NOK 516
-47.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$2.24NOK 20.83
-15.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$35.2KNOK 328.5K
9.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$40.3KNOK 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
$239NOK 2,229
-21.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$37.95NOK 354
-41.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$55.7NOK 519
-33.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$44.63NOK 416
29.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$35.42NOK 330
-40.74%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$16.32NOK 152
-32.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$289NOK 2,694
151.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$2,876NOK 26.8K
429.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$81.2NOK 757
8.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$54.7NOK 510
-32.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$93.1NOK 868
10.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$147NOK 1,371
-18.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$1,648NOK 15.4K
-7.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$1,043NOK 9,720
16.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$2,061NOK 19.2K
35.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$1,541NOK 14.4K
31.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$4,555NOK 42.5K
55.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$4,752NOK 44.3K
2.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Haugesund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$3,882NOK 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.