🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,780 in Jonkoping versus $2,320 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,895 in Jonkoping versus $3,426 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,010 in Jonkoping versus $4,532 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Jonkoping costs roughly 23% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jonkoping33% above, Barcelona74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.63SEK 122
$17.66€15.45
-28.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.5SEK 836
$69.7€61.0
24.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.77SEK 114
$14.16€12.39
-16.88%
Cappuccino
$4.85SEK 46.92
$2.80€2.45
73.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90SEK 18.35
$2.81€2.46
-32.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10SEK 20.27
$2.06€1.81
1.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.05SEK 77.8
$4.60€4.02
75.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.50SEK 72.5
$4.69€4.10
59.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61SEK 15.54
$1.23€1.08
30.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15SEK 20.75
$2.03€1.78
5.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.96SEK 28.57
$1.98€1.73
49.49%
Eggs
$3.95SEK 38.17
$3.49€3.05
13.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.10SEK 127
$18.33€16.04
-28.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.37SEK 110
$9.83€8.60
15.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.22SEK 166
$19.13€16.73
-9.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30SEK 31.86
$2.73€2.38
20.88%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56SEK 24.79
$2.38€2.09
7.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.78SEK 26.86
$2.08€1.82
33.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.37SEK 42.26
$2.75€2.41
58.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67SEK 16.17
$1.96€1.72
-14.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63SEK 15.75
$1.79€1.57
-8.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.99SEK 19.22
$1.48€1.29
34.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28SEK 12.36
$0.91€0.80
40.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.41SEK 71.6
$7.13€6.24
3.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.38SEK 110
$7.88€6.89
44.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88SEK 18.20
$1.38€1.21
36.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24SEK 21.69
$2.39€2.09
-6.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.27SEK 41.31
$3.01€2.63
41.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.3SEK 776
$29.35€25.68
173.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.59SEK 54.1
$4.36€3.82
28.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.89SEK 8.63
$2.13€1.86
-58.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$78.4SEK 757
$29.60€25.90
164.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91SEK 18.50
$1.82€1.59
4.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8KSEK 239.3K
$37.9K€33.1K
-34.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1KSEK 319.9K
$32.4K€28.3K
2.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$119SEK 1,151
$189€165
-37.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.28SEK 283
$22.29€19.50
31.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.22SEK 389
$37.16€32.51
8.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.01SEK 416
$58.0€50.8
-25.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.68SEK 258
$20.66€18.08
29.14%
Cinema Ticket
$16.75SEK 162
$10.87€9.51
54.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$151SEK 1,455
$706€618
-78.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,190SEK 40.5K
$14.9K€13.0K
-71.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.7SEK 790
$89.4€78.3
-8.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.67SEK 335
$36.60€32.02
-5.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104SEK 1,010
$104€91.0
0.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129SEK 1,245
$119€104
7.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$846SEK 8,180
$1,579€1,381
-46.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675SEK 6,525
$1,238€1,083
-45.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,439SEK 13.9K
$2,712€2,373
-46.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,234SEK 11.9K
$2,039€1,784
-39.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,381SEK 32.7K
$7,527€6,585
-55.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,239€4,584
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,876SEK 27.8K
$2,364€2,068
21.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
3.39
33.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jonkoping: July 13, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $846 in Jonkoping and $1,579 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jonkoping pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $87.0 in Jonkoping vs $70.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $320 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
Jonkoping vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Jonkoping and in Barcelona?
Jonkoping and Barcelona differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($1,780 vs $2,320 including rent). Jonkoping is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Jonkoping or Barcelona?
Average pay runs 22% higher in Jonkoping, 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 Jonkoping and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $846 in Jonkoping versus $1,579 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 Jonkoping and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $151 in Jonkoping versus $706 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 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,780 in Jonkoping versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Jonkoping but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Jonkoping the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Jonkoping 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 Jonkoping or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Jonkoping 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: Jonkoping or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Jonkoping gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.