🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Barcelona versus $2,791 in Trondheim.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,458 in Barcelona versus $4,121 in Trondheim.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,601 in Barcelona versus $5,452 in Trondheim.
🌍Living in Barcelona costs roughly 17% less than in Trondheim, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona73% above, Trondheim109% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Trondheim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19€15.06
$22.59NOK 217
-23.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7€62.0
$122NOK 1,171
-42.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.02€12.29
$14.08NOK 135
-0.43%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.44
$4.68NOK 44.89
-40.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.44
$3.63NOK 34.86
-23.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.79
$2.94NOK 28.18
-30.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.52€3.96
$10.71NOK 103
-57.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67€4.09
$11.59NOK 111
-59.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Trondheim
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.13
$2.63NOK 25.24
-50.95%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14€1.87
$3.52NOK 33.79
-39.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.93€1.69
$3.96NOK 38.00
-51.26%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$4.44NOK 42.57
-21.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.52€16.23
$12.26NOK 118
51.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.35
$15.27NOK 146
-37.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.90€16.56
$28.03NOK 269
-32.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62€2.30
$3.73NOK 35.76
-29.76%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.05
$2.94NOK 28.21
-20.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$2.58NOK 24.79
-19.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.50
$5.13NOK 49.22
-44.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$3.03NOK 29.03
-35.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$3.36NOK 32.24
-44.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53€1.34
$3.20NOK 30.69
-52.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.79
$2.44NOK 23.44
-63.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.77€5.93
$15.15NOK 145
-55.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.79€6.82
$18.59NOK 178
-58.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$3.62NOK 34.71
-61.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32€2.04
$4.83NOK 46.35
-51.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Trondheim
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.00€2.62
$4.58NOK 43.96
-34.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.62€25.08
$91.3NOK 876
-68.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€4.01
$15.10NOK 145
-69.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$2.23NOK 21.43
-4.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.89
$87.9NOK 843
-66.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80€1.57
$2.12NOK 20.31
-15.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K€33.7K
$31.8KNOK 304.8K
20.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K€29.1K
$42.6KNOK 408.5K
-21.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Trondheim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185€162
$319NOK 3,060
-42.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.68€19.87
$42.81NOK 411
-47.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.78€32.22
$75.4NOK 723
-51.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Trondheim
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.8€50.6
$41.89NOK 402
37.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.19€18.57
$46.73NOK 448
-54.65%
Cinema Ticket
$10.83€9.49
$17.42NOK 167
-37.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Trondheim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$727€637
$324NOK 3,107
124.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K€12.9K
$8,636NOK 82.8K
70.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Trondheim
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.6€76.7
$112NOK 1,078
-22.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.37€32.74
$47.40NOK 455
-21.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€90.5
$130NOK 1,242
-20.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€104
$134NOK 1,284
-11.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Trondheim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,560€1,367
$1,361NOK 13.1K
14.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221€1,070
$1,063NOK 10.2K
14.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,742€2,402
$2,271NOK 21.8K
20.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,745
$1,671NOK 16.0K
19.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,489€6,562
$6,217NOK 59.6K
20.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,207€4,562
$4,843NOK 46.5K
7.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Trondheim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,355€2,063
$4,245NOK 40.7K
-44.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.32
-21.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 21, 2026
Last update for Trondheim: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,560 in Barcelona and $1,361 in Trondheim. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Trondheim pays 80% 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: $71.0 in Barcelona vs $122 in Trondheim for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $488 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 Trondheim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Trondheim?
Barcelona and Trondheim differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $2,791 including rent). Barcelona 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 80% lower in Trondheim. 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 Trondheim?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,560 in Barcelona versus $1,361 in Trondheim. 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 Trondheim?
Childcare runs $727 in Barcelona versus $324 in Trondheim. 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 53% higher in Trondheim. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,316 in Barcelona versus $2,791 in Trondheim, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Trondheim. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Trondheim?
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 Trondheim safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Trondheim 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 Trondheim?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Trondheim. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.