Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Norrkoping

For one person, living is cheaper in Norrkoping: $1,792 a month against $2,453 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $7,900 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Barcelona outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Barcelona, Spain
Norrkoping, Sweden
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,453
/mo nomad
Norrkoping
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,792
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barcelona and in Norrkoping

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Barcelona and in Norrkoping actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,453 in Barcelona versus $1,792 in Norrkoping.

  • Barcelona $2,453
  • Norrkoping $1,792

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,509 in Barcelona versus $2,745 in Norrkoping.

  • Barcelona $3,509
  • Norrkoping $2,745

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,564 in Barcelona versus $3,699 in Norrkoping.

  • Barcelona $4,564
  • Norrkoping $3,699

Living in Barcelona is roughly 37% more expensive than in Norrkoping, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 80% above, Norrkoping 32% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Norrkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.69
$13.85 SEK 135
27.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.2
$80.9 SEK 789
-16.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.53 €12.07
$10.11 SEK 98.7
33.83%
Cappuccino
$3.19 €2.85
$4.98 SEK 48.59
-35.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.60
$3.10 SEK 30.24
-6.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 €1.69
$2.39 SEK 23.32
-20.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.01 €3.58
$7.71 SEK 75.2
-47.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €4.04
$8.06 SEK 78.7
-43.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Norrkoping
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 €1.16
$1.83 SEK 17.81
-28.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.02 €1.80
$2.84 SEK 27.70
-28.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 €1.65
$4.40 SEK 42.92
-57.95%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.31
$4.08 SEK 39.79
18.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.74 €14.93
$9.99 SEK 97.5
67.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.12 €8.14
$14.60 SEK 142
-37.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.64 €17.52
$18.12 SEK 177
8.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 €2.66
$3.29 SEK 32.10
-9.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 €1.80
$2.76 SEK 26.88
-26.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 €2.41
$3.60 SEK 35.16
-25.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.80 €2.50
$5.30 SEK 51.7
-47.17%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 €1.86
$1.38 SEK 13.44
51.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.85
$1.73 SEK 16.90
19.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 €1.30
$2.05 SEK 19.97
-28.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.84
$1.32 SEK 12.90
-28.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.87 €6.13
$7.47 SEK 72.9
-8.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 €7.04
$10.18 SEK 99.3
-22.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 €1.25
$1.89 SEK 18.41
-25.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 €2.26
$1.96 SEK 19.08
29.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Norrkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.14 €2.80
$3.35 SEK 32.67
-6.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.45 €22.70
$100 SEK 980
-74.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 €2.67
$5.56 SEK 54.3
-46.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 €1.33
$1.27 SEK 12.42
17.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.37 €29.78
$61.5 SEK 599
-45.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 €1.60
$1.75 SEK 17.04
2.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K €29.6K
$31.3K SEK 305.0K
6.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K €28.3K
$33.1K SEK 322.8K
-4.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Norrkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 €161
$99.5 SEK 971
81.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.84 €12.35
$28.69 SEK 280
-51.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.70 €30.06
$45.28 SEK 442
-25.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Norrkoping
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.5 €45.96
$34.01 SEK 332
51.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.96 €14.24
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.99 €9.81
$14.86 SEK 145
-26.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Norrkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$917 €818
$126 SEK 1,231
626.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Norrkoping
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.0 €77.7
$69.5 SEK 678
25.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51 €34.35
$30.47 SEK 297
26.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 €94.4
$94.2 SEK 919
12.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €107
$204 SEK 1,985
-41.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Norrkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,699 €1,516
$659 SEK 6,431
157.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,355 €1,209
$595 SEK 5,804
127.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,603 €2,322
$1,166 SEK 11.4K
123.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 €1,840
$883 SEK 8,616
133.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,915 €6,169
$4,492 SEK 43.8K
53.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,128 €4,575
$3,370 SEK 32.9K
52.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Norrkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,211 €1,972
$3,054 SEK 29.8K
-27.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.28
4.09
-19.80%

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

Last update for Barcelona: October 25, 2026

Last update for Norrkoping: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
$1.4K
Norrkoping
$595 56.1% $760
Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
$322
Norrkoping
$377 17.2% $55
Eating Out
Barcelona
$268
Norrkoping
$278 3.6% $9.6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
$228
Norrkoping
$174 23.9% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
$158
Norrkoping
$179 13.3% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
$74
Norrkoping
$64 13.3% $9.8
Getting Around
Barcelona
$48
Norrkoping
$126 160% $77

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,699 in Barcelona and $659 in Norrkoping. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Norrkoping pays 38% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $67 in Barcelona vs $81 in Norrkoping for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $322 vs $377 per month, with Barcelona cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🇸🇪 Norrkoping
🕒 Local time
17:27 5:27 PM
17:27 5:27 PM
Same time as Barcelona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,660,122
98,088
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 9.76 SEK (1 SEK = 0.103 USD). 1 EUR = 10.89 SEK (100 SEK = 9.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barcelona Norrkoping 2,150 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Barcelona
  • Norrkoping

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Norrkoping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Norrkoping?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,453 in Barcelona and $1,792 in Norrkoping, so Norrkoping is about 27% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 28% lower in Barcelona. 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 Norrkoping?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,699 in Barcelona versus $659 in Norrkoping. 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 Norrkoping?
Childcare runs $917 in Barcelona versus $126 in Norrkoping. 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 15% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How far does $3,000 go in Barcelona compared to Norrkoping?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Norrkoping gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Norrkoping?
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 Norrkoping safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Norrkoping are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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