πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,769 in HΓΆllviken.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $2,744 in HΓΆllviken.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $3,719 in HΓΆllviken.
πLiving in Barcelona is roughly 32% more expensive than HΓΆllviken, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, HΓΆllviken32% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Barcelona
HΓΆllviken
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08β¬14.72
$13.97SEKΒ 131
22.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2β¬59.7
$75.3SEKΒ 706
-8.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78β¬11.87
$10.53SEKΒ 98.8
30.86%
Cappuccino
$2.76β¬2.37
$4.70SEKΒ 44.06
-41.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79β¬2.40
$2.74SEKΒ 25.73
1.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99β¬1.72
$2.16SEKΒ 20.22
-7.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36β¬3.76
$7.16SEKΒ 67.2
-39.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74β¬4.09
$6.22SEKΒ 58.4
-23.79%
π Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
HΓΆllviken
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29β¬1.11
$1.52SEKΒ 14.25
-15.13%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05β¬1.77
$2.50SEKΒ 23.42
-18.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99β¬1.71
$2.70SEKΒ 25.36
-26.30%
Eggs
$3.39β¬2.92
$4.33SEKΒ 40.62
-21.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81β¬16.21
$10.42SEKΒ 97.8
80.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36β¬8.07
$11.72SEKΒ 110
-20.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12β¬16.48
$16.11SEKΒ 151
18.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70β¬2.32
$2.74SEKΒ 25.70
-1.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34β¬2.02
$2.79SEKΒ 26.21
-16.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12β¬1.83
$3.20SEKΒ 29.99
-33.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85β¬2.46
$3.65SEKΒ 34.24
-21.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97β¬1.70
$1.47SEKΒ 13.79
34.01%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80β¬1.55
$1.40SEKΒ 13.12
28.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45β¬1.25
$2.15SEKΒ 20.14
-32.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86β¬0.74
$1.55SEKΒ 14.55
-44.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78β¬5.84
$7.36SEKΒ 69.1
-7.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90β¬6.81
$9.75SEKΒ 91.5
-18.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39β¬1.20
$2.46SEKΒ 23.06
-43.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37β¬2.04
$2.69SEKΒ 25.21
-11.90%
π Getting Around
Barcelona
HΓΆllviken
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92β¬2.52
$3.43SEKΒ 32.18
-14.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69β¬24.72
$73.3SEKΒ 687
-60.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46β¬3.84
$6.44SEKΒ 60.4
-30.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05β¬1.77
$1.89SEKΒ 17.75
8.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55β¬25.46
$51.8SEKΒ 485
-42.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82β¬1.56
$1.91SEKΒ 17.93
-4.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8Kβ¬33.5K
$32.8KSEKΒ 307.7K
18.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1Kβ¬28.5K
$33.4KSEKΒ 312.9K
-0.76%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
HΓΆllviken
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189β¬163
$118SEKΒ 1,108
60.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80β¬19.65
$28.35SEKΒ 266
-19.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59β¬32.39
$35.93SEKΒ 337
4.62%
π Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
HΓΆllviken
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7β¬49.75
$39.90SEKΒ 374
44.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74β¬17.87
$25.09SEKΒ 235
-17.34%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82β¬9.33
$17.64SEKΒ 165
-38.66%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
HΓΆllviken
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728β¬628
$144SEKΒ 1,353
405.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kβ¬12.7K
$4,158SEKΒ 39.0K
255.29%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
HΓΆllviken
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6β¬76.4
$84.0SEKΒ 788
5.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85β¬31.75
$42.89SEKΒ 402
-14.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102β¬87.9
$84.6SEKΒ 793
20.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116β¬100
$114SEKΒ 1,074
1.42%
π Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
HΓΆllviken
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569β¬1,352
$828SEKΒ 7,768
89.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218β¬1,050
$649SEKΒ 6,085
87.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795β¬2,409
$1,405SEKΒ 13.2K
98.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975β¬1,702
$1,077SEKΒ 10.1K
83.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754β¬6,680
$3,685SEKΒ 34.6K
110.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176β¬4,460
$2,559SEKΒ 24.0K
102.28%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
HΓΆllviken
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343β¬2,019
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.66
-27.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for HΓΆllviken: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $828 in HΓΆllviken. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $75.0 in HΓΆllviken for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $340 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 HΓΆllviken: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and HΓΆllviken?
Barcelona and HΓΆllviken differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,769 including rent). HΓΆllviken is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to HΓΆllviken?
You'd need roughly $3,505 in Barcelona and $2,653 in HΓΆllviken to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and HΓΆllviken?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $828 in HΓΆllviken. 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 HΓΆllviken?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $144 in HΓΆllviken. 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 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,769 in HΓΆllviken versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $2,500 budget is realistic in HΓΆllviken but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes HΓΆllviken the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and HΓΆllviken?
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 HΓΆllviken safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and HΓΆllviken 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 HΓΆllviken?
Expats usually find HΓΆllviken gentler on the wallet β expenses run 32% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.