😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,482 in Barcelona versus $2,419 in Sollentuna.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in Barcelona versus $3,488 in Sollentuna.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $4,557 in Sollentuna.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 3% more expensive than in Sollentuna, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona80% above, Sollentuna75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sollentuna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42€15.88
$17.00SEK 165
8.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4€59.8
$84.9SEK 823
-18.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.05€12.11
$10.51SEK 102
33.68%
Cappuccino
$3.11€2.68
$4.63SEK 44.86
-32.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.55
$3.73SEK 36.13
-20.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.69
$2.32SEK 22.51
-15.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.99€3.44
$7.18SEK 69.6
-44.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€3.98
$7.12SEK 69.1
-35.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sollentuna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.14
$1.77SEK 17.14
-25.42%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.82
$3.29SEK 31.90
-35.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$3.94SEK 38.21
-53.55%
Eggs
$5.16€4.45
$5.12SEK 49.67
0.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.56€15.14
$13.26SEK 129
32.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.50€8.19
$13.74SEK 133
-30.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.93€17.18
$22.34SEK 217
-10.79%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.73
$3.37SEK 32.65
-5.93%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.91
$2.73SEK 26.46
-19.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61€2.25
$3.05SEK 29.58
-14.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$4.57SEK 44.34
-37.64%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$1.62SEK 15.71
33.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.81
$1.82SEK 17.67
15.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62€1.39
$2.35SEK 22.81
-31.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$1.97SEK 19.05
-55.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17€6.18
$8.57SEK 83.1
-16.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.33€7.18
$10.44SEK 101
-20.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.98SEK 19.18
-24.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75€2.37
$2.29SEK 22.23
20.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sollentuna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.14€2.70
$4.42SEK 42.85
-28.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.25€22.63
$108SEK 1,048
-75.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22€2.78
$6.33SEK 61.4
-49.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.30
$1.71SEK 16.54
-11.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.26€30.39
$58.2SEK 564
-39.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.51
$1.91SEK 18.55
-8.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.6K
$34.7KSEK 336.1K
5.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K€27.3K
$34.1KSEK 331.0K
-7.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sollentuna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€161
$183SEK 1,776
2.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10€13.01
$27.68SEK 268
-45.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.60€32.41
$40.67SEK 394
-7.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sollentuna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5€47.83
$38.00SEK 368
46.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.74€14.43
$24.62SEK 239
-32.01%
Cinema Ticket
$11.71€10.09
$18.20SEK 176
-35.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sollentuna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,011€871
$168SEK 1,632
500.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.1K€14.7K
$5,235SEK 50.7K
226.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sollentuna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4€78.8
$101SEK 975
-9.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00€35.34
$54.5SEK 529
-24.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€95.3
$96.2SEK 933
14.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126€109
$196SEK 1,896
-35.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sollentuna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,704€1,469
$1,391SEK 13.5K
22.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,299€1,120
$1,018SEK 9,865
27.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,588€2,231
$1,424SEK 13.8K
81.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,929€1,663
$1,405SEK 13.6K
37.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,732€6,665
$4,127SEK 40.0K
87.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,384€4,641
$2,902SEK 28.1K
85.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sollentuna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,374€2,046
$3,704SEK 35.9K
-35.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
3.31
-4.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Last update for Sollentuna: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Barcelona and $1,391 in Sollentuna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sollentuna pays 56% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $85.0 in Sollentuna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $407 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 Sollentuna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Sollentuna?
Barcelona and Sollentuna differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($2,482 vs $2,419 including rent). Sollentuna is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 56% lower in Sollentuna. 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 Sollentuna?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,704 in Barcelona versus $1,391 in Sollentuna. 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 Sollentuna?
Childcare runs $1,011 in Barcelona versus $168 in Sollentuna. 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 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,419 in Sollentuna versus $2,482 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Sollentuna but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Sollentuna the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Sollentuna?
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 Sollentuna safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Sollentuna 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 Sollentuna?
Expats usually find Sollentuna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.