Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Sopron Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Sopron

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,243 in Sopron.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,803 in Sopron.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,364 in Sopron.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 88% more expensive than Sopron, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Sopron is 7% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61 €15.08
$8.81 Ft 2,750
99.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7 €58.8
$43.54 Ft 13.6K
57.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.75 €11.77
$8.39 Ft 2,619
63.89%
Cappuccino
$2.76 €2.36
$2.19 Ft 683
26.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 €2.38
$1.09 Ft 341
155.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 €1.75
$0.91 Ft 283
125.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.61 €3.94
$1.61 Ft 502
186.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 €3.93
$2.18 Ft 680
110.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 €1.10
$1.11 Ft 346
15.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 €1.81
$1.54 Ft 481
37.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 €1.69
$1.68 Ft 524
17.26%
Eggs
$3.44 €2.95
$2.52 Ft 785
36.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.83 €16.12
$9.10 Ft 2,838
106.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.45 €8.09
$5.34 Ft 1,667
76.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.01 €16.27
$7.23 Ft 2,257
162.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 €2.33
$1.42 Ft 442
91.55%
Banana (1kg)
$2.37 €2.03
$2.01 Ft 627
17.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 €1.78
$2.18 Ft 681
-4.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 €2.36
$2.04 Ft 635
35.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 €1.69
$1.03 Ft 321
91.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 €1.53
$0.98 Ft 306
82.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 €1.29
$1.80 Ft 562
-16.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 €0.77
$0.55 Ft 171
63.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76 €5.79
$7.05 Ft 2,200
-4.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.55 €6.46
$4.91 Ft 1,532
53.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 €1.23
$1.21 Ft 379
19.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 €2.06
$1.59 Ft 498
51.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.03 €2.59
$1.14 Ft 357
165.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.39 €24.30
$51.4 Ft 16.0K
-44.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.43 €3.79
$3.08 Ft 962
43.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 €1.76
$1.06 Ft 332
93.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.33 €25.11
$23.33 Ft 7,279
25.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 €1.62
$1.70 Ft 532
11.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K €33.2K
$26.9K Ft 8.4M
43.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K €27.7K
$31.7K Ft 9.9M
2.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €161
$162 Ft 50.5K
16.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21 €19.01
$27.33 Ft 8,526
-18.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82 €31.52
$20.01 Ft 6,244
84.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 €49.64
$47.60 Ft 14.9K
21.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99 €17.97
$19.40 Ft 6,052
8.20%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05 €9.46
$7.70 Ft 2,403
43.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$726 €622
$175 Ft 54.6K
315.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K €13.0K
$7,193 Ft 2.2M
111.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3 €75.6
$60.4 Ft 18.8K
46.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98 €31.66
$32.82 Ft 10.2K
12.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €87.8
$72.0 Ft 22.5K
42.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €102
$71.0 Ft 22.1K
68.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,526 €1,307
$586 Ft 182.9K
160.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 €1,043
$442 Ft 137.8K
175.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,794 €2,392
$983 Ft 306.6K
184.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,027 €1,735
$672 Ft 209.5K
201.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,094 €6,073
$3,154 Ft 984.0K
124.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,849 €4,151
$3,073 Ft 958.8K
57.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,404 €2,058
$1,488 Ft 464.3K
61.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
8
-57.62%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sopron: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $586 in Sopron. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 62% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $44.00 in Sopron for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $195 per month, with Sopron 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 Sopron: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Sopron?
Barcelona and Sopron differ by about 88% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,243 including rent). Sopron is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Sopron?
Barcelona pays 62% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Sopron?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $586 in Sopron. 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 Sopron?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $175 in Sopron. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 64% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,243 in Sopron versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sopron but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Sopron the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Sopron?
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 Sopron safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Sopron 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 Sopron?
Expats usually find Sopron gentler on the wallet – expenses run 88% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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