🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,142 in Falun versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,235 in Falun versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,328 in Falun versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Falun costs roughly 9% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Falun60% above, Barcelona77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Falun
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98SEK 122
$17.58€15.14
-26.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4SEK 651
$68.4€58.9
1.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.32SEK 87.4
$14.06€12.10
-33.71%
Cappuccino
$4.57SEK 42.84
$2.78€2.39
64.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87SEK 17.58
$2.80€2.41
-33.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04SEK 19.16
$2.06€1.78
-0.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.25SEK 68.0
$4.46€3.84
62.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.47SEK 70.1
$4.61€3.97
62.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Falun
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38SEK 12.93
$1.24€1.07
11.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.86SEK 26.80
$2.03€1.75
40.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.94SEK 36.99
$1.92€1.65
105.21%
Eggs
$3.94SEK 36.94
$3.31€2.85
19.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.14SEK 123
$18.43€15.87
-28.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.37SEK 97.3
$9.49€8.17
9.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.76SEK 148
$19.16€16.49
-17.75%
Apples(1kg)
$3.64SEK 34.14
$2.64€2.27
37.88%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56SEK 24.03
$2.45€2.11
4.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54SEK 14.48
$2.12€1.83
-27.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.63SEK 52.8
$2.85€2.45
97.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50SEK 14.02
$2.04€1.75
-26.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09SEK 19.64
$1.85€1.59
12.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.73SEK 25.62
$1.47€1.27
85.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66SEK 15.60
$0.84€0.73
97.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.42SEK 69.5
$7.14€6.15
3.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.71SEK 100
$7.88€6.79
35.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70SEK 15.99
$1.38€1.19
23.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99SEK 18.62
$2.31€1.99
-13.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Falun
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.73SEK 44.40
$2.98€2.57
58.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$97.2SEK 911
$29.26€25.19
232.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.25SEK 77.4
$4.60€3.96
79.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63SEK 15.33
$2.07€1.78
-21.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$76.8SEK 721
$29.18€25.12
163.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86SEK 17.45
$1.84€1.58
1.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2KSEK 357.9K
$39.0K€33.6K
-2.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 322.7K
$32.7K€28.1K
5.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Falun
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4SEK 857
$188€162
-51.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.64SEK 269
$22.93€19.74
24.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.62SEK 343
$36.71€31.61
-0.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Falun
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.8SEK 673
$57.4€49.39
25.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.84SEK 233
$20.70€17.82
20.00%
Cinema Ticket
$15.55SEK 146
$11.19€9.64
38.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Falun
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$146SEK 1,372
$721€621
-79.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$736SEK 6,903
$15.0K€13.0K
-95.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Falun
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106SEK 995
$86.2€74.2
23.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.09SEK 404
$37.07€31.92
16.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117SEK 1,101
$102€87.8
15.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158SEK 1,483
$116€99.8
36.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Falun
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,286SEK 12.1K
$1,534€1,320
-16.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$957SEK 8,974
$1,220€1,051
-21.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,963SEK 18.4K
$2,696€2,321
-27.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,602SEK 15.0K
$2,013€1,733
-20.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,404SEK 41.3K
$7,220€6,216
-39.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,027SEK 28.4K
$5,189€4,467
-41.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Falun
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,772SEK 26.0K
$2,359€2,031
17.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
3.39
17.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Falun: May 31, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,286 in Falun and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Falun pays 18% 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 Falun vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $318 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
Falun vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Falun and Barcelona?
Falun and Barcelona differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($2,142 vs $2,367 including rent). Falun is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Falun or Barcelona?
Falun pays 18% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Falun and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,286 in Falun versus $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Falun and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $146 in Falun versus $721 in Barcelona. 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 11% 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 $2,142 in Falun versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Falun but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Falun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Falun and Barcelona?
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 Falun or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Falun and Barcelona 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: Falun or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Falun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.