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