😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Barcelona versus $1,796 in Sollefteå.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,458 in Barcelona versus $2,767 in Sollefteå.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,601 in Barcelona versus $3,738 in Sollefteå.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 29% more expensive than in Sollefteå, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona73% above, Sollefteå34% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19€15.06
$13.67SEK 133
25.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7€62.0
$74.4SEK 722
-4.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.02€12.29
$10.42SEK 101
34.55%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.44
$4.75SEK 46.05
-41.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.44
$2.81SEK 27.23
-1.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.79
$2.47SEK 23.97
-17.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.52€3.96
$7.95SEK 77.1
-43.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67€4.09
$7.48SEK 72.6
-37.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.13
$1.68SEK 16.28
-23.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14€1.87
$2.85SEK 27.63
-24.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.93€1.69
$3.76SEK 36.47
-48.67%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$4.02SEK 38.94
-13.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.52€16.23
$11.98SEK 116
54.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.35
$12.00SEK 116
-20.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.90€16.56
$17.03SEK 165
10.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62€2.30
$3.18SEK 30.84
-17.61%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.05
$2.59SEK 25.15
-9.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$3.00SEK 29.07
-30.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.50
$4.38SEK 42.50
-34.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$1.63SEK 15.77
20.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.77SEK 17.21
4.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53€1.34
$2.55SEK 24.71
-40.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.79
$1.56SEK 15.14
-42.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.77€5.93
$7.30SEK 70.8
-7.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.79€6.82
$9.18SEK 89.0
-15.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.98SEK 19.18
-30.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32€2.04
$1.92SEK 18.60
20.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.00€2.62
$3.34SEK 32.40
-10.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.62€25.08
$73.5SEK 713
-61.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€4.01
$6.23SEK 60.4
-26.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$1.58SEK 15.31
34.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.89
$62.0SEK 602
-52.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80€1.57
$1.90SEK 18.41
-5.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K€33.7K
$32.1KSEK 311.3K
19.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K€29.1K
$34.1KSEK 331.0K
-2.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185€162
$115SEK 1,120
60.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.68€19.87
$29.29SEK 284
-22.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.78€32.22
$37.24SEK 361
-1.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.8€50.6
$39.70SEK 385
45.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.19€18.57
$25.42SEK 246
-16.64%
Cinema Ticket
$10.83€9.49
$16.06SEK 156
-32.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$727€637
$145SEK 1,404
402.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K€12.9K
$4,127SEK 40.0K
257.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.6€76.7
$95.2SEK 923
-8.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.37€32.74
$39.93SEK 387
-6.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€90.5
$98.3SEK 953
5.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€104
$151SEK 1,464
-21.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,560€1,367
$845SEK 8,192
84.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221€1,070
$648SEK 6,288
88.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,742€2,402
$1,417SEK 13.7K
93.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,745
$1,079SEK 10.5K
84.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,489€6,562
$4,345SEK 42.1K
72.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,207€4,562
$2,793SEK 27.1K
86.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,355€2,063
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.53
-25.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 21, 2026
Last update for Sollefteå: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,560 in Barcelona and $845 in Sollefteå. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $71.0 in Barcelona vs $74.0 in Sollefteå for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $358 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 Sollefteå: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Sollefteå?
Barcelona and Sollefteå differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $1,796 including rent). Sollefteå is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Sollefteå?
You'd need roughly $3,474 in Barcelona and $2,694 in Sollefteå 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 in Sollefteå?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,560 in Barcelona versus $845 in Sollefteå. 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 Sollefteå?
Childcare runs $727 in Barcelona versus $145 in Sollefteå. 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 12% 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 $1,796 in Sollefteå versus $2,316 in Barcelona, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Sollefteå but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Sollefteå the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Sollefteå?
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 Sollefteå safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Sollefteå 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 Sollefteå?
Expats usually find Sollefteå gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.