😐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: Barcelona80% above, Tumba37% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Tumba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68€15.22
$14.67SEK 137
20.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€60.3
$67.3SEK 630
4.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.76
$10.43SEK 97.6
30.97%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.36
$4.56SEK 42.65
-39.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$2.77SEK 25.92
0.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$2.40SEK 22.45
-18.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$7.49SEK 70.1
-41.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.94
$7.45SEK 69.7
-38.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Tumba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.79SEK 16.79
-27.93%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$3.18SEK 29.76
-35.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$3.97SEK 37.12
-50.13%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$4.03SEK 37.68
-15.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.64€16.05
$12.99SEK 122
43.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56€8.23
$12.88SEK 121
-25.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83€16.22
$15.95SEK 149
18.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$3.48SEK 32.58
-20.98%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$2.57SEK 24.01
-3.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.80
$1.54SEK 14.41
36.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$4.45SEK 41.64
-36.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.74
$1.50SEK 14.03
34.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$1.81SEK 16.97
2.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.30
$2.61SEK 24.39
-42.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$1.63SEK 15.25
-44.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06€6.08
$7.43SEK 69.5
-4.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98€6.87
$10.59SEK 99.0
-24.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.23
$1.72SEK 16.06
-16.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.97
$1.91SEK 17.85
19.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Tumba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.48
$4.56SEK 42.65
-36.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.45
$109SEK 1,019
-73.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.77
$6.17SEK 57.7
-29.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.84
$1.24SEK 11.62
72.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15€25.10
$20.80SEK 195
40.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.61
$1.98SEK 18.51
-6.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$32.8KSEK 306.5K
18.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$34.0KSEK 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
$90.2SEK 844
109.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71€19.56
$28.47SEK 266
-20.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51€31.43
$42.27SEK 395
-13.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Tumba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€49.59
$43.41SEK 406
32.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37€18.40
$25.07SEK 235
-14.76%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.31
$16.39SEK 153
-34.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Tumba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€625
$145SEK 1,360
399.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K€13.0K
$4,105SEK 38.4K
267.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Tumba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€75.5
$106SEK 987
-16.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89€31.77
$43.81SEK 410
-15.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.2
$115SEK 1,076
-10.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$159SEK 1,484
-26.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Tumba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,355
$837SEK 7,829
87.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$648SEK 6,063
88.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,711€2,335
$1,366SEK 12.8K
98.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,966€1,693
$1,069SEK 10.0K
83.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,811€6,726
$4,511SEK 42.2K
73.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,267€4,535
$2,874SEK 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.