Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Moss Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Moss

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $2,304 in Moss.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $3,498 in Moss.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $4,693 in Moss.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 4% more expensive than in Moss, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 80% above, Moss 73% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Moss
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68 €15.42
$18.23 NOK 178
-3.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1 €61.1
$97.9 NOK 954
-28.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.66 €11.91
$12.94 NOK 126
5.56%
Cappuccino
$2.74 €2.39
$3.76 NOK 36.60
-27.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 €2.43
$3.31 NOK 32.23
-15.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 €1.71
$2.48 NOK 24.17
-20.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.36 €3.81
$6.47 NOK 63.0
-32.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 €3.99
$8.14 NOK 79.2
-43.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Moss
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 €1.13
$2.02 NOK 19.65
-36.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 €1.79
$3.42 NOK 33.27
-40.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 €1.73
$3.52 NOK 34.33
-43.75%
Eggs
$3.39 €2.96
$3.25 NOK 31.67
4.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.64 €16.26
$13.38 NOK 130
39.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.56 €8.34
$12.43 NOK 121
-23.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.83 €16.43
$27.01 NOK 263
-30.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 €2.40
$3.44 NOK 33.52
-20.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.47 €2.15
$2.50 NOK 24.37
-1.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 €1.83
$3.47 NOK 33.77
-39.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.82 €2.46
$4.90 NOK 47.73
-42.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 €1.76
$2.54 NOK 24.78
-20.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 €1.61
$2.57 NOK 25.03
-28.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 €1.32
$2.48 NOK 24.16
-39.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 €0.78
$2.42 NOK 23.53
-62.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06 €6.16
$15.55 NOK 151
-54.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.98 €6.96
$15.64 NOK 152
-48.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 €1.25
$2.46 NOK 23.94
-41.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$3.78 NOK 36.86
-39.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Moss
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.88 €2.51
$4.21 NOK 41.02
-31.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.39 €24.77
$85.5 NOK 833
-66.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.38 €3.82
$10.09 NOK 98.2
-56.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 €1.87
$1.44 NOK 14.00
48.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.15 €25.44
$42.83 NOK 417
-31.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.86 €1.63
$2.18 NOK 21.24
-14.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K €34.0K
$36.8K NOK 358.2K
5.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K €28.5K
$37.4K NOK 364.7K
-12.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Moss
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €165
$293 NOK 2,852
-35.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 €19.82
$19.88 NOK 194
14.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51 €31.85
$47.84 NOK 466
-23.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Moss
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.6 €50.3
$41.16 NOK 401
39.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37 €18.64
$33.55 NOK 327
-36.30%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81 €9.43
$16.03 NOK 156
-32.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Moss
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$726 €634
$269 NOK 2,619
170.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K €13.2K
$3,625 NOK 35.3K
316.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Moss
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7 €76.5
$97.9 NOK 953
-10.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89 €32.19
$66.3 NOK 646
-44.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €90.3
$102 NOK 989
2.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 €102
$139 NOK 1,356
-16.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Moss
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,573 €1,373
$1,217 NOK 11.9K
29.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,220 €1,064
$862 NOK 8,396
41.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,711 €2,366
$1,796 NOK 17.5K
50.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,966 €1,716
$1,403 NOK 13.7K
40.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,811 €6,815
$5,231 NOK 51.0K
49.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,267 €4,595
$3,996 NOK 38.9K
31.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Moss
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,375 €2,072
$4,456 NOK 43.4K
-46.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
5.05
-32.87%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: June 14, 2026

Last update for Moss: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Barcelona and $1,217 in Moss. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Moss pays 88% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $98.0 in Moss for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $438 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 Moss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Moss?
Barcelona and Moss differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $2,304 including rent). Moss 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 88% lower in Moss. 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 Moss?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,573 in Barcelona versus $1,217 in Moss. 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 Moss?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $269 in Moss. 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 37% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Moss 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 Moss?
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 Moss safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Moss 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 Moss?
Expats usually find Moss gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Barcelona. 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