Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Visby Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Visby

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,709 in Visby.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $2,757 in Visby.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $3,806 in Visby.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 37% more expensive than Visby, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 74% above, Visby 27% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08 €14.72
$10.56 SEK 99.1
61.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2 €59.7
$95.5 SEK 895
-27.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.78 €11.87
$9.26 SEK 86.9
48.81%
Cappuccino
$2.76 €2.37
$3.09 SEK 29.01
-10.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 €2.40
$3.07 SEK 28.80
-9.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 €1.72
$2.73 SEK 25.61
-27.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.36 €3.76
$7.59 SEK 71.2
-42.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74 €4.09
$4.33 SEK 40.64
9.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 €1.11
$1.54 SEK 14.47
-16.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 €1.77
$2.75 SEK 25.77
-25.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 €1.71
$3.22 SEK 30.16
-38.20%
Eggs
$3.39 €2.92
$4.03 SEK 37.83
-15.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.81 €16.21
$10.67 SEK 100
76.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.36 €8.07
$12.34 SEK 116
-24.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.12 €16.48
$18.77 SEK 176
1.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 €2.32
$3.05 SEK 28.57
-11.48%
Banana (1kg)
$2.34 €2.02
$2.62 SEK 24.62
-10.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 €1.83
$3.07 SEK 28.77
-30.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.85 €2.46
$3.62 SEK 33.96
-21.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 €1.70
$1.86 SEK 17.40
5.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 €1.55
$1.84 SEK 17.23
-2.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.25
$2.86 SEK 26.79
-49.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 €0.74
$1.13 SEK 10.63
-23.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78 €5.84
$6.14 SEK 57.6
10.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.90 €6.81
$12.40 SEK 116
-36.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$2.37 SEK 22.23
-41.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 €2.04
$1.84 SEK 17.25
28.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 €2.52
$3.07 SEK 28.78
-4.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.69 €24.72
$50.0 SEK 469
-42.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 €3.84
$3.63 SEK 34.01
22.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 €1.77
$1.18 SEK 11.04
73.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.55 €25.46
$84.8 SEK 796
-65.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.56
$1.99 SEK 18.64
-8.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K €33.5K
$32.1K SEK 300.7K
21.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K €28.5K
$34.7K SEK 325.9K
-4.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €163
$188 SEK 1,760
0.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80 €19.65
$28.37 SEK 266
-19.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59 €32.39
$40.76 SEK 382
-7.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 €49.75
$48.89 SEK 459
18.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74 €17.87
$41.79 SEK 392
-50.37%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82 €9.33
$14.44 SEK 135
-25.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$728 €628
$161 SEK 1,506
353.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K €12.7K
$4,106 SEK 38.5K
259.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6 €76.4
$95.7 SEK 898
-7.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85 €31.75
$42.51 SEK 399
-13.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.9
$94.0 SEK 882
8.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 €100
$121 SEK 1,132
-3.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,569 €1,352
$757 SEK 7,104
107.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 €1,050
$579 SEK 5,427
110.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,795 €2,409
$1,493 SEK 14.0K
87.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,975 €1,702
$1,036 SEK 9,719
90.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,754 €6,680
$4,430 SEK 41.6K
75.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,176 €4,460
$2,855 SEK 26.8K
81.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,343 €2,019
$2,693 SEK 25.3K
-12.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
4.87
-30.39%

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

Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026

Last update for Visby: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $757 in Visby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Visby pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $95.0 in Visby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $358 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 37% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,709 including rent). Visby is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Visby earns 15% 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: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $757 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 $728 in Barcelona versus $161 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 $1,709 in Visby versus $2,337 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 – 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 – expenses run 37% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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