😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,336 in Barcelona versus $1,803 in Sollefteå.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,475 in Barcelona versus $2,775 in Sollefteå.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,614 in Barcelona versus $3,747 in Sollefteå.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 30% more expensive than Sollefteå, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, Sollefteå35% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.45€14.88
$13.29SEK 122
31.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8€59.6
$74.7SEK 688
-6.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.91€11.86
$10.66SEK 98.1
30.49%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.34
$4.52SEK 41.59
-39.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70€2.30
$2.72SEK 25.03
-0.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03€1.73
$2.50SEK 23.04
-18.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.51€3.85
$7.61SEK 70.1
-40.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.93
$7.23SEK 66.5
-36.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.09
$1.62SEK 14.94
-20.99%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10€1.79
$2.77SEK 25.50
-24.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.70
$3.76SEK 34.60
-47.07%
Eggs
$3.45€2.95
$4.08SEK 37.53
-15.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.61€15.87
$11.83SEK 109
57.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.41€8.03
$11.82SEK 109
-20.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.70€15.95
$16.99SEK 156
10.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61€2.22
$3.23SEK 29.67
-19.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$2.70SEK 24.79
-11.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19€1.86
$3.06SEK 28.15
-28.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.81€2.40
$4.45SEK 40.91
-36.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03€1.73
$1.56SEK 14.34
30.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87€1.60
$1.85SEK 17.05
1.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.24
$2.49SEK 22.94
-41.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.79
$1.59SEK 14.58
-42.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.82
$7.37SEK 67.8
-7.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.71€6.58
$11.76SEK 108
-34.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.99SEK 18.34
-30.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$1.89SEK 17.37
23.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.46
$3.36SEK 30.93
-14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.04€24.77
$72.8SEK 670
-60.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.78
$6.41SEK 59.0
-30.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.82
$1.67SEK 15.34
28.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.96€24.71
$62.4SEK 574
-53.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90€1.62
$1.99SEK 18.29
-4.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€32.3K
$32.2KSEK 295.8K
17.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K€28.4K
$34.8KSEK 319.9K
-4.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186€158
$116SEK 1,069
59.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.17€18.91
$28.86SEK 266
-23.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.52€31.15
$36.83SEK 339
-0.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.4€49.81
$40.79SEK 375
43.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.75€17.70
$25.26SEK 232
-17.85%
Cinema Ticket
$11.10€9.47
$15.92SEK 146
-30.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$705€601
$144SEK 1,326
388.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$4,185SEK 38.5K
263.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4€73.7
$94.6SEK 870
-8.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.88€31.46
$40.09SEK 369
-8.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€88.8
$97.4SEK 896
6.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115€98.4
$151SEK 1,387
-23.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,538€1,312
$839SEK 7,718
83.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,242€1,060
$663SEK 6,102
87.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,728€2,327
$1,395SEK 12.8K
95.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,011€1,716
$1,095SEK 10.1K
83.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,155€6,104
$4,151SEK 38.2K
72.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,843€4,131
$3,114SEK 28.7K
55.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sollefteå
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,474€2,111
-
-
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: April 19, 2026
Last update for Sollefteå: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,538 in Barcelona and $839 in Sollefteå. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70 in Barcelona vs $75 in Sollefteå for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $362 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 Sollefteå?
Barcelona and Sollefteå differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($2,336 vs $1,803 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 $3,504 in Barcelona and $2,704 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 Sollefteå?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,538 in Barcelona versus $839 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 $705 in Barcelona versus $144 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 14% 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 $1,803 in Sollefteå versus $2,336 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 30% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.