😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,495 in Barcelona versus $1,840 in Sollefteå.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,550 in Barcelona versus $2,893 in Sollefteå.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Barcelona versus $3,946 in Sollefteå.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 36% more expensive than in Sollefteå, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona82% above, Sollefteå34% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39€15.83
$14.25SEK 136
29.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.5
$80.4SEK 769
-14.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.13€12.16
$10.47SEK 100
34.96%
Cappuccino
$3.13€2.70
$4.81SEK 46.03
-34.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.59
$2.79SEK 26.65
8.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$2.20SEK 21.07
-10.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.00€3.44
$7.17SEK 68.6
-44.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76€4.10
$7.43SEK 71.0
-35.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$1.75SEK 16.77
-28.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.86
$2.93SEK 28.04
-26.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69€1.45
$3.78SEK 36.19
-55.29%
Eggs
$4.93€4.24
$4.65SEK 44.46
6.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.39
$12.45SEK 119
43.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61€8.27
$12.47SEK 119
-22.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.34€16.64
$18.50SEK 177
4.54%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24€2.78
$3.20SEK 30.60
1.25%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.87
$2.78SEK 26.57
-21.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67€2.30
$3.08SEK 29.47
-13.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77€2.39
$4.48SEK 42.82
-38.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.90
$1.68SEK 16.10
31.55%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19€1.88
$1.74SEK 16.69
25.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52€1.31
$2.31SEK 22.05
-34.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.79
$1.50SEK 14.30
-38.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12€6.13
$7.71SEK 73.7
-7.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.14€7.00
$10.37SEK 99.2
-21.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$2.02SEK 19.32
-25.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.39
$2.31SEK 22.11
20.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.15€2.71
$3.52SEK 33.70
-10.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.99€23.23
$80.3SEK 768
-66.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.25€2.80
$6.14SEK 58.8
-47.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50€1.29
$1.75SEK 16.70
-14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.89€30.03
$62.1SEK 594
-43.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.50
$1.90SEK 18.16
-7.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.5K
$34.9KSEK 333.4K
5.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K€26.6K
$34.6KSEK 330.8K
-10.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€161
$115SEK 1,099
63.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.44€13.29
$27.01SEK 258
-42.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.80€32.52
$40.05SEK 383
-5.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.2€49.21
$39.78SEK 380
43.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80€14.45
$27.14SEK 260
-38.10%
Cinema Ticket
$11.58€9.96
$16.90SEK 162
-31.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,003€863
$169SEK 1,613
494.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0K€14.6K
$5,370SEK 51.4K
216.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2€76.8
$92.9SEK 889
-4.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.87€35.17
$44.07SEK 422
-7.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€94.6
$98.6SEK 943
11.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€106
$147SEK 1,404
-16.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,673€1,440
$848SEK 8,112
97.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331€1,146
$610SEK 5,832
118.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,596€2,234
$1,410SEK 13.5K
84.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,950€1,678
$1,088SEK 10.4K
79.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,573€6,517
$4,195SEK 40.1K
80.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,370€4,621
$2,900SEK 27.7K
85.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,402€2,067
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
3.42
-7.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Last update for Sollefteå: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,673 in Barcelona and $848 in Sollefteå. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $80.0 in Sollefteå for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $374 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 36% in total monthly costs ($2,495 vs $1,840 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 $3,743 in Barcelona and $2,760 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: $1,673 in Barcelona versus $848 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 $1,003 in Barcelona versus $169 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 13% 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 $1,840 in Sollefteå versus $2,495 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 36% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.