Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Taby Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Taby

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $1,876 in Taby.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $2,903 in Taby.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $3,930 in Taby.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 24% more expensive than in Taby, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 74% above, Taby 40% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Taby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 €15.46
$13.04 SEK 126
35.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7 €61.0
$68.7 SEK 665
1.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.16 €12.40
$10.52 SEK 102
34.60%
Cappuccino
$2.80 €2.45
$4.70 SEK 45.46
-40.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 €2.46
$3.28 SEK 31.76
-14.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 €1.81
$2.55 SEK 24.65
-19.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.60 €4.03
$7.19 SEK 69.6
-36.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 €4.11
$8.60 SEK 83.3
-45.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Taby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 €1.08
$1.72 SEK 16.61
-28.49%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 €1.78
$3.23 SEK 31.26
-37.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 €1.73
$4.05 SEK 39.24
-51.11%
Eggs
$3.49 €3.05
$4.73 SEK 45.79
-26.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.33 €16.05
$13.00 SEK 126
41.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.83 €8.61
$11.85 SEK 115
-17.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.13 €16.75
$19.55 SEK 189
-2.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 €2.39
$3.59 SEK 34.79
-23.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 €2.09
$2.58 SEK 24.95
-7.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.56 SEK 15.09
33.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.75 €2.41
$4.55 SEK 44.09
-39.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 €1.72
$1.91 SEK 18.54
2.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 €1.57
$1.85 SEK 17.94
-3.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 €1.29
$2.63 SEK 25.50
-43.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 €0.80
$1.61 SEK 15.59
-43.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13 €6.25
$7.49 SEK 72.5
-4.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.88 €6.90
$12.47 SEK 121
-36.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.21
$1.71 SEK 16.60
-19.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 €2.09
$2.38 SEK 23.03
0.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Taby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.01 €2.64
$4.15 SEK 40.20
-27.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.35 €25.71
$104 SEK 1,010
-71.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.36 €3.82
$6.27 SEK 60.7
-30.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 €1.86
$1.22 SEK 11.85
74.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.60 €25.93
$21.47 SEK 208
37.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.60
$1.93 SEK 18.65
-5.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K €33.2K
$32.9K SEK 318.2K
15.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K €28.4K
$33.8K SEK 327.0K
-4.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Taby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €166
$91.4 SEK 885
106.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29 €19.52
$29.59 SEK 286
-24.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16 €32.55
$37.81 SEK 366
-1.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Taby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 €50.8
$47.86 SEK 463
21.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66 €18.09
$25.81 SEK 250
-19.95%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87 €9.52
$18.17 SEK 176
-40.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Taby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 €618
$165 SEK 1,597
328.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K €13.0K
$4,166 SEK 40.3K
256.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Taby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4 €78.3
$106 SEK 1,031
-16.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60 €32.06
$43.23 SEK 419
-15.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €91.1
$118 SEK 1,140
-11.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €105
$158 SEK 1,528
-24.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Taby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,579 €1,383
$846 SEK 8,190
86.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,238 €1,084
$644 SEK 6,236
92.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,712 €2,375
$1,415 SEK 13.7K
91.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 €1,786
$1,070 SEK 10.4K
90.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,527 €6,592
$6,100 SEK 59.1K
23.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,239 €4,588
$7,212 SEK 69.8K
-27.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Taby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,364 €2,070
$3,431 SEK 33.2K
-31.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
4.16
-18.51%

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

Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026

Last update for Taby: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $846 in Taby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Taby pays 45% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $69.0 in Taby. Groceries flip the comparison at $320 vs $382, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.

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 Taby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Taby?
Barcelona and Taby differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $1,876 including rent). Taby 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 45% lower in Taby. 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 Taby?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $846 in Taby. 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 Taby?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $165 in Taby. 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 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,876 in Taby versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Taby but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Taby the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Taby?
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 Taby safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Taby 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 Taby?
Expats usually find Taby gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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