😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $1,809 in Visby.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $2,790 in Visby.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $3,771 in Visby.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 37% more expensive than in Visby, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona81% above, Visby32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$13.09SEK 129
43.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$84.5SEK 833
-17.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$9.33SEK 92.0
47.59%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$4.04SEK 39.79
-23.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$2.46SEK 24.25
15.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$2.58SEK 25.47
-27.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$7.73SEK 76.2
-48.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$4.09SEK 40.33
10.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.50SEK 14.79
-15.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$3.18SEK 31.33
-32.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$3.22SEK 31.72
-45.34%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$4.17SEK 41.10
23.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$10.22SEK 101
74.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$12.14SEK 120
-20.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$16.40SEK 162
22.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$3.07SEK 30.23
5.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$2.64SEK 26.04
-15.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$3.16SEK 31.13
-17.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$4.16SEK 40.99
-33.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$1.79SEK 17.67
23.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$1.81SEK 17.85
17.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$2.32SEK 22.87
-33.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$1.05SEK 10.39
-9.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$5.25SEK 51.8
39.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$12.47SEK 123
-35.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$2.32SEK 22.83
-33.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$1.60SEK 15.75
74.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$3.21SEK 31.65
-3.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
$81.3SEK 801
-68.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$3.62SEK 35.70
-9.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$2.84SEK 27.99
-47.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$82.7SEK 815
-58.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$1.89SEK 18.64
-8.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$34.4KSEK 339.0K
5.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$34.4KSEK 338.6K
-11.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$189SEK 1,864
-1.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$23.02SEK 227
-34.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$44.83SEK 442
-15.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$39.54SEK 390
41.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
$26.38SEK 260
-35.25%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$14.39SEK 142
-20.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$154SEK 1,522
545.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$5,200SEK 51.2K
217.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$106SEK 1,046
-12.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$41.39SEK 408
-0.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$91.6SEK 902
21.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$143SEK 1,414
-12.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$750SEK 7,388
127.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$573SEK 5,647
124.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$1,407SEK 13.9K
82.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$1,060SEK 10.4K
83.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
$4,189SEK 41.3K
82.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
$2,969SEK 29.3K
74.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Visby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
$2,555SEK 25.2K
-8.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
3.53
-10.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Visby: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $750 in Visby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Visby pays 9% 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 $85.0 in Visby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $352 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 37% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $1,809 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 9% 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: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $750 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 $997 in Barcelona versus $154 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 5% 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 $1,809 in Visby versus $2,476 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.