😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,683 in Orebro.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $2,759 in Orebro.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $3,834 in Orebro.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 41% more expensive than Orebro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Orebro26% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Orebro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$14.38SEK 134
22.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$82.7SEK 772
-17.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$9.74SEK 90.9
44.35%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$5.12SEK 47.74
-45.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$3.27SEK 30.56
-14.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$2.50SEK 23.33
-17.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$8.38SEK 78.2
-46.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$8.11SEK 75.6
-43.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Orebro
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.62SEK 15.09
-23.46%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$3.11SEK 28.98
-34.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$4.03SEK 37.64
-52.36%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$4.36SEK 40.67
-24.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$12.01SEK 112
53.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$11.86SEK 111
-19.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$19.50SEK 182
-1.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$3.08SEK 28.73
-14.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$2.57SEK 24.02
-4.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$3.35SEK 31.25
-36.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$4.55SEK 42.49
-37.36%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$2.00SEK 18.69
2.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$1.88SEK 17.53
-1.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$2.54SEK 23.69
-42.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.56SEK 14.58
-46.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$7.35SEK 68.6
-2.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$10.58SEK 98.7
-25.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$2.24SEK 20.93
-38.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$1.84SEK 17.16
25.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Orebro
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$3.10SEK 28.90
-3.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
$74.9SEK 699
-60.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$2.58SEK 24.08
78.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$1.58SEK 14.72
31.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$63.2SEK 590
-53.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.89SEK 17.62
-2.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$32.8KSEK 305.8K
19.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$34.5KSEK 321.7K
-5.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Orebro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$117SEK 1,090
60.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$28.59SEK 267
-19.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$30.61SEK 286
19.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Orebro
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$52.9SEK 493
8.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
$25.23SEK 235
-17.95%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$13.10SEK 122
-14.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Orebro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$133SEK 1,243
441.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$6,470SEK 60.4K
132.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Orebro
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$56.4SEK 527
52.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$45.87SEK 428
-19.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$96.5SEK 900
5.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$132SEK 1,229
-12.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Orebro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$688SEK 6,419
122.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$535SEK 4,991
128.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$1,278SEK 11.9K
110.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$990SEK 9,237
103.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
$3,522SEK 32.9K
105.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
$3,442SEK 32.1K
50.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Orebro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
$3,346SEK 31.2K
-29.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.16
-18.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Orebro: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $688 in Orebro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Orebro pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $83.0 in Orebro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $376 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 Orebro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Orebro?
Barcelona and Orebro differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,683 including rent). Orebro is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Orebro earns 42% 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 Orebro?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $688 in Orebro. 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 Orebro?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $133 in Orebro. 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 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,683 in Orebro versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Orebro but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Orebro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Orebro?
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 Orebro safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Orebro 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 Orebro?
Expats usually find Orebro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.