😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,248 in Sopron.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,815 in Sopron.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $2,382 in Sopron.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 87% more expensive than Sopron, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Sopron is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$8.55Ft 2,586
99.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$42.51Ft 12.9K
62.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$8.83Ft 2,671
56.06%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$2.19Ft 661
26.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$1.11Ft 334
151.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.99Ft 301
101.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.63Ft 492
167.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$2.14Ft 647
121.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.05Ft 319
22.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.57Ft 475
30.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.62Ft 490
22.84%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$2.50Ft 757
35.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$9.54Ft 2,887
97.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$5.60Ft 1,694
67.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$7.40Ft 2,240
158.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$1.48Ft 447
82.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$2.00Ft 606
17.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$2.19Ft 663
-3.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$2.06Ft 624
38.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$1.02Ft 309
93.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$0.99Ft 300
81.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$1.80Ft 546
-19.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.54Ft 165
59.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$7.24Ft 2,191
-6.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$4.75Ft 1,437
66.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.21Ft 368
14.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$1.60Ft 486
48.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$1.10Ft 334
165.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$51.1Ft 15.5K
-43.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$3.15Ft 954
41.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$1.08Ft 326
89.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$23.23Ft 7,029
27.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.71Ft 516
6.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$27.8KFt 8.4M
39.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$31.6KFt 9.6M
4.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$165Ft 49.9K
14.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$27.50Ft 8,322
-17.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$19.82Ft 5,997
89.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$46.87Ft 14.2K
23.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$19.79Ft 5,988
4.80%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$7.85Ft 2,375
37.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$173Ft 52.5K
319.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$7,339Ft 2.2M
101.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$59.4Ft 18.0K
49.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$33.50Ft 10.1K
10.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$71.7Ft 21.7K
42.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$73.3Ft 22.2K
58.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$601Ft 181.7K
161.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$439Ft 132.9K
177.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$968Ft 292.9K
188.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$684Ft 206.9K
188.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$3,154Ft 954.2K
145.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$3,110Ft 940.9K
66.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sopron
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$1,462Ft 442.4K
60.25%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Sopron: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $601 in Sopron. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 60% 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 $43.00 in Sopron for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $198 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 87% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,248 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 60% 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: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $601 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 $728 in Barcelona versus $173 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 61% 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 $1,248 in Sopron versus $2,337 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 87% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.