😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $1,743 in Visby.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $2,773 in Visby.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $3,804 in Visby.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 35% more expensive than in Visby, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Visby31% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.88
$10.48SEK 100.0
63.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€59.1
$95.0SEK 906
-28.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.84
$9.28SEK 88.6
46.98%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$3.02SEK 28.84
-7.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.45
$3.24SEK 30.87
-12.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$2.74SEK 26.17
-28.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$7.63SEK 72.8
-41.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€4.00
$4.17SEK 39.80
10.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.54SEK 14.67
-17.53%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$2.72SEK 25.98
-21.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$3.18SEK 30.31
-37.42%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$4.03SEK 38.40
-16.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.45
$10.75SEK 103
76.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.27
$12.10SEK 115
-21.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.25
$18.87SEK 180
-0.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.30
$3.13SEK 29.83
-15.34%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$2.58SEK 24.64
-8.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$3.11SEK 29.68
-32.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$3.72SEK 35.49
-26.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$1.81SEK 17.22
8.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.57
$1.74SEK 16.62
4.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$2.93SEK 27.98
-48.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.78
$1.19SEK 11.32
-25.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.88
$5.95SEK 56.8
13.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.87
$12.24SEK 117
-35.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$2.36SEK 22.49
-41.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$1.88SEK 17.96
27.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$3.22SEK 30.76
-9.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.86
$49.23SEK 470
-41.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.97
$3.66SEK 34.88
25.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$1.19SEK 11.32
71.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.91
$86.0SEK 821
-66.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$1.90SEK 18.11
-4.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.1K
$32.4KSEK 309.0K
21.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.2K
$34.8KSEK 332.0K
-6.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$190SEK 1,814
-1.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.34
$28.67SEK 274
-22.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.55
$41.87SEK 399
-13.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.91
$48.15SEK 459
19.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.99
$41.52SEK 396
-50.05%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.34
$14.92SEK 142
-27.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€629
$159SEK 1,514
356.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$4,205SEK 40.1K
260.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.2
$96.2SEK 918
-8.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.94
$43.03SEK 410
-14.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.7
$93.2SEK 889
10.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$121SEK 1,156
-2.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,322
$764SEK 7,291
99.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,064
$584SEK 5,569
110.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,366
$1,465SEK 14.0K
86.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,721
$1,046SEK 9,978
89.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,480
$4,341SEK 41.4K
72.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,549
$3,097SEK 29.5K
69.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,076
$2,535SEK 24.2K
-5.61%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Visby: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $764 in Visby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Visby pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 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 in Visby?
Barcelona and Visby differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $1,743 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, salaries run 6% lower in Visby. 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 Visby?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $764 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 $725 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 $1,743 in Visby versus $2,359 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 35% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.