πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,734 in Visby.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $2,769 in Visby.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $3,805 in Visby.
πLiving in Barcelona is roughly 35% more expensive than Visby, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona75% above, Visby29% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61β¬15.08
$10.54SEKΒ 98.0
67.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7β¬58.8
$94.9SEKΒ 882
-27.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75β¬11.77
$9.50SEKΒ 88.4
44.74%
Cappuccino
$2.76β¬2.36
$3.19SEKΒ 29.70
-13.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78β¬2.38
$3.15SEKΒ 29.29
-11.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05β¬1.75
$2.73SEKΒ 25.42
-24.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61β¬3.94
$7.75SEKΒ 72.1
-40.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59β¬3.93
$4.35SEKΒ 40.42
5.52%
π Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28β¬1.10
$1.61SEKΒ 15.00
-20.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11β¬1.81
$2.75SEKΒ 25.60
-23.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97β¬1.69
$3.19SEKΒ 29.64
-38.24%
Eggs
$3.44β¬2.95
$3.86SEKΒ 35.91
-10.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83β¬16.12
$10.56SEKΒ 98.2
78.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45β¬8.09
$12.24SEKΒ 114
-22.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01β¬16.27
$18.77SEKΒ 175
1.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72β¬2.33
$3.04SEKΒ 28.30
-10.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37β¬2.03
$2.68SEKΒ 24.95
-11.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08β¬1.78
$3.20SEKΒ 29.76
-35.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76β¬2.36
$3.72SEKΒ 34.61
-25.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97β¬1.69
$1.88SEKΒ 17.52
4.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79β¬1.53
$1.76SEKΒ 16.32
1.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51β¬1.29
$2.81SEKΒ 26.15
-46.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90β¬0.77
$1.17SEKΒ 10.89
-23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76β¬5.79
$6.03SEKΒ 56.1
12.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55β¬6.46
$12.70SEKΒ 118
-40.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44β¬1.23
$2.35SEKΒ 21.87
-38.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41β¬2.06
$1.88SEKΒ 17.45
28.19%
π Getting Around
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03β¬2.59
$3.21SEKΒ 29.82
-5.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39β¬24.30
$49.77SEKΒ 463
-42.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43β¬3.79
$3.78SEKΒ 35.14
17.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05β¬1.76
$1.19SEKΒ 11.11
72.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33β¬25.11
$85.2SEKΒ 793
-65.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89β¬1.62
$1.97SEKΒ 18.30
-4.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7Kβ¬33.2K
$32.5KSEKΒ 302.0K
19.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4Kβ¬27.7K
$34.8KSEKΒ 323.3K
-6.91%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189β¬161
$192SEKΒ 1,790
-2.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21β¬19.01
$28.62SEKΒ 266
-22.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82β¬31.52
$41.33SEKΒ 384
-10.91%
π Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0β¬49.64
$49.61SEKΒ 461
16.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99β¬17.97
$41.47SEKΒ 386
-49.39%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05β¬9.46
$14.94SEKΒ 139
-26.04%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726β¬622
$159SEKΒ 1,477
357.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2Kβ¬13.0K
$4,167SEKΒ 38.8K
265.34%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3β¬75.6
$95.7SEKΒ 890
-7.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98β¬31.66
$42.64SEKΒ 397
-13.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103β¬87.8
$93.4SEKΒ 868
9.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119β¬102
$123SEKΒ 1,142
-2.88%
π Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526β¬1,307
$754SEKΒ 7,011
102.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218β¬1,043
$590SEKΒ 5,485
106.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794β¬2,392
$1,475SEKΒ 13.7K
89.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027β¬1,735
$1,038SEKΒ 9,651
95.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094β¬6,073
$4,886SEKΒ 45.4K
45.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849β¬4,151
$3,461SEKΒ 32.2K
40.11%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404β¬2,058
$2,672SEKΒ 24.8K
-10.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.87
-30.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Visby: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $754 in Visby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Visby pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $95.0 in Visby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $359 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 Visby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Visby?
Barcelona and Visby differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,734 including rent). Visby is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Visby earns 11% less. 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 Visby?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $754 in Visby. 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 Visby?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $159 in Visby. 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 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,734 in Visby versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Visby but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Visby the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Visby?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Visby safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Visby 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 Visby?
Expats usually find Visby gentler on the wallet β expenses run 35% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.