🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,745 in Jonkoping versus $2,476 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,834 in Jonkoping versus $3,545 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,922 in Jonkoping versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Jonkoping costs roughly 30% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jonkoping28% above, Barcelona81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.40SEK 132
$18.74€16.33
-28.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.2SEK 908
$69.5€60.6
32.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.14SEK 120
$13.77€12.00
-11.84%
Cappuccino
$4.58SEK 45.16
$3.10€2.70
47.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08SEK 20.50
$2.83€2.47
-26.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09SEK 20.55
$1.88€1.64
11.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.00SEK 78.8
$3.98€3.47
101.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.36SEK 72.5
$4.53€3.95
62.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70SEK 16.79
$1.27€1.11
33.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10SEK 20.68
$2.16€1.88
-2.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.68SEK 36.28
$1.76€1.53
109.09%
Eggs
$3.88SEK 38.22
$5.13€4.47
-24.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.75SEK 126
$17.88€15.59
-28.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.04SEK 119
$9.65€8.41
24.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.32SEK 171
$20.15€17.56
-14.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02SEK 29.73
$3.25€2.84
-7.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.58SEK 25.40
$2.23€1.94
15.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.92SEK 28.80
$2.60€2.27
12.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.41SEK 43.47
$2.76€2.40
59.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70SEK 16.71
$2.21€1.93
-23.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.47SEK 14.49
$2.12€1.85
-30.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.76SEK 17.34
$1.55€1.35
13.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02SEK 10.03
$0.95€0.83
7.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.29SEK 81.7
$7.34€6.40
12.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.26SEK 111
$8.05€7.01
39.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83SEK 18.08
$1.54€1.35
18.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26SEK 22.31
$2.79€2.43
-19.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.08SEK 40.24
$3.11€2.71
31.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.1SEK 760
$25.86€22.54
198.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24SEK 51.6
$3.27€2.85
60.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15SEK 11.35
$1.48€1.29
-22.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$43.27SEK 426
$34.27€29.88
26.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.78SEK 17.51
$1.73€1.51
2.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8KSEK 332.7K
$36.4K€31.7K
-7.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2KSEK 337.2K
$30.5K€26.6K
12.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.6SEK 785
$187€163
-57.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.64SEK 282
$15.14€13.20
89.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.27SEK 417
$37.69€32.85
12.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.69SEK 440
$55.9€48.76
-20.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.32SEK 299
$17.08€14.89
77.52%
Cinema Ticket
$15.08SEK 149
$11.41€9.95
32.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$162SEK 1,598
$997€869
-83.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$16.5K€14.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.5SEK 822
$92.6€80.8
-9.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.00SEK 256
$41.22€35.93
-36.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102SEK 1,006
$111€96.9
-8.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125SEK 1,229
$125€109
-0.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$914SEK 9,004
$1,707€1,488
-46.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$655SEK 6,459
$1,286€1,121
-49.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,378SEK 13.6K
$2,565€2,236
-46.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,197SEK 11.8K
$1,942€1,693
-38.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,655SEK 36.0K
$7,647€6,666
-52.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,167€4,504
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jonkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,951SEK 29.1K
$2,348€2,047
25.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.27
3.16
3.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jonkoping: September 13, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $914 in Jonkoping and $1,707 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jonkoping pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $92.0 in Jonkoping vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $336 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 42% in total monthly costs ($1,745 vs $2,476 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 26% 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: $914 in Jonkoping versus $1,707 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 $162 in Jonkoping versus $997 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 3% 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 $1,745 in Jonkoping versus $2,476 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 42% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.