😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $1,869 in Lidingo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $2,892 in Lidingo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $3,915 in Lidingo.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 32% more expensive than in Lidingo, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona81% above, Lidingo37% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Lidingo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.32
$14.40SEK 141
30.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.5
$73.0SEK 717
-4.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€11.99
$11.51SEK 113
19.64%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$3.10SEK 30.49
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$2.44SEK 23.96
15.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$2.57SEK 25.25
-26.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$6.57SEK 64.6
-39.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$5.71SEK 56.1
-20.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Lidingo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.45SEK 14.28
-12.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$3.13SEK 30.80
-30.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$3.72SEK 36.53
-52.69%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$4.12SEK 40.47
24.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.58
$12.46SEK 122
43.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$13.26SEK 130
-27.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.55
$23.12SEK 227
-12.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.83
$3.24SEK 31.88
0.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$2.51SEK 24.66
-11.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$3.78SEK 37.10
-31.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$4.22SEK 41.48
-34.60%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$2.05SEK 20.12
7.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$1.94SEK 19.07
9.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$2.31SEK 22.69
-32.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$1.58SEK 15.51
-39.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$7.77SEK 76.3
-5.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$12.64SEK 124
-36.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$1.43SEK 14.00
7.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$2.27SEK 22.34
22.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Lidingo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$3.49SEK 34.31
-10.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.53
$78.7SEK 773
-67.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$3.60SEK 35.38
-9.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$2.94SEK 28.84
-49.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.86
$84.8SEK 833
-59.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$1.89SEK 18.56
-8.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$34.3KSEK 337.3K
5.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$34.6KSEK 339.5K
-11.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Lidingo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$191SEK 1,880
-2.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.19
$23.36SEK 230
-35.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.83
$45.63SEK 448
-17.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Lidingo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.73
$38.99SEK 383
43.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.88
$25.81SEK 254
-33.82%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.94
$17.25SEK 169
-33.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Lidingo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€868
$157SEK 1,545
533.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$5,196SEK 51.0K
218.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Lidingo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.7
$106SEK 1,046
-12.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.91
$41.03SEK 403
0.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$91.9SEK 903
21.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$144SEK 1,415
-13.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Lidingo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,487
$844SEK 8,290
102.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,120
$610SEK 5,997
110.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,235
$1,386SEK 13.6K
85.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,692
$1,066SEK 10.5K
82.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,662
$4,140SEK 40.7K
84.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,501
$2,973SEK 29.2K
73.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Lidingo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,046
$2,592SEK 25.5K
-9.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
3.53
-10.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Lidingo: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $844 in Lidingo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lidingo pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $73.0 in Lidingo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $393 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 Lidingo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Lidingo?
Barcelona and Lidingo differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $1,869 including rent). Lidingo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 10% lower in Lidingo. 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 in Lidingo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $844 in Lidingo. 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 Lidingo?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $157 in Lidingo. 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 17% 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 $1,869 in Lidingo versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lidingo but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Lidingo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Lidingo?
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 Lidingo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Lidingo 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 Lidingo?
Expats usually find Lidingo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.