Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Tumba Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Tumba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $1,823 in Tumba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $2,826 in Tumba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $3,829 in Tumba.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 32% more expensive than Tumba, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 80% above, Tumba 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Tumba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68 €15.22
$14.67 SEK 137
20.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1 €60.3
$67.3 SEK 630
4.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.66 €11.76
$10.43 SEK 97.6
30.97%
Cappuccino
$2.74 €2.36
$4.56 SEK 42.65
-39.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 €2.40
$2.77 SEK 25.92
0.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 €1.69
$2.40 SEK 22.45
-18.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.36 €3.76
$7.49 SEK 70.1
-41.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 €3.94
$7.45 SEK 69.7
-38.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Tumba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 €1.11
$1.79 SEK 16.79
-27.93%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 €1.77
$3.18 SEK 29.76
-35.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 €1.71
$3.97 SEK 37.12
-50.13%
Eggs
$3.39 €2.92
$4.03 SEK 37.68
-15.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.64 €16.05
$12.99 SEK 122
43.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.56 €8.23
$12.88 SEK 121
-25.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.83 €16.22
$15.95 SEK 149
18.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 €2.37
$3.48 SEK 32.58
-20.98%
Banana (1kg)
$2.47 €2.13
$2.57 SEK 24.01
-3.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 €1.80
$1.54 SEK 14.41
36.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.82 €2.43
$4.45 SEK 41.64
-36.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 €1.74
$1.50 SEK 14.03
34.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 €1.59
$1.81 SEK 16.97
2.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 €1.30
$2.61 SEK 24.39
-42.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 €0.77
$1.63 SEK 15.25
-44.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06 €6.08
$7.43 SEK 69.5
-4.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.98 €6.87
$10.59 SEK 99.0
-24.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 €1.23
$1.72 SEK 16.06
-16.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €1.97
$1.91 SEK 17.85
19.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Tumba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.88 €2.48
$4.56 SEK 42.65
-36.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.39 €24.45
$109 SEK 1,019
-73.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.38 €3.77
$6.17 SEK 57.7
-29.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 €1.84
$1.24 SEK 11.62
72.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.15 €25.10
$20.80 SEK 195
40.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.86 €1.61
$1.98 SEK 18.51
-6.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K €33.6K
$32.8K SEK 306.5K
18.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K €28.2K
$34.0K SEK 317.7K
-3.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Tumba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €163
$90.2 SEK 844
109.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 €19.56
$28.47 SEK 266
-20.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51 €31.43
$42.27 SEK 395
-13.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Tumba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.6 €49.59
$43.41 SEK 406
32.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37 €18.40
$25.07 SEK 235
-14.76%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81 €9.31
$16.39 SEK 153
-34.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Tumba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$726 €625
$145 SEK 1,360
399.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K €13.0K
$4,105 SEK 38.4K
267.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Tumba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7 €75.5
$106 SEK 987
-16.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89 €31.77
$43.81 SEK 410
-15.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €89.2
$115 SEK 1,076
-10.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 €100
$159 SEK 1,484
-26.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Tumba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,573 €1,355
$837 SEK 7,829
87.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,220 €1,050
$648 SEK 6,063
88.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,711 €2,335
$1,366 SEK 12.8K
98.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,966 €1,693
$1,069 SEK 10.0K
83.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,811 €6,726
$4,511 SEK 42.2K
73.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,267 €4,535
$2,874 SEK 26.9K
83.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Tumba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,375 €2,045
-
-
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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Tumba: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Barcelona and $837 in Tumba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $67.0 in Tumba. Groceries flip the comparison at $321 vs $366, 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 Tumba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Tumba?
Barcelona and Tumba differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $1,823 including rent). Tumba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Tumba?
You'd need roughly $3,599 in Barcelona and $2,734 in Tumba to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Tumba?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,573 in Barcelona versus $837 in Tumba. 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 Tumba?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $145 in Tumba. 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 14% 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 $1,823 in Tumba versus $2,399 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tumba but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Tumba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Tumba?
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 Tumba safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Tumba 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 Tumba?
Expats usually find Tumba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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