🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,774 in Norrkoping versus $2,359 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,715 in Norrkoping versus $3,498 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,655 in Norrkoping versus $4,638 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Norrkoping costs roughly 25% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Norrkoping33% above, Barcelona77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Norrkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.47SEK 118
$17.15€14.86
-27.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5SEK 650
$68.1€58.9
0.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60SEK 101
$13.64€11.82
-22.29%
Cappuccino
$4.97SEK 47.23
$2.78€2.41
78.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36SEK 22.40
$2.82€2.44
-16.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81SEK 17.15
$1.96€1.70
-7.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.27SEK 69.0
$4.43€3.84
64.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.06SEK 76.6
$4.61€3.99
74.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Norrkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59SEK 15.10
$1.27€1.10
25.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.86SEK 27.18
$2.13€1.85
34.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.57SEK 43.40
$1.99€1.72
129.65%
Eggs
$4.24SEK 40.28
$3.37€2.92
25.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.36SEK 117
$18.96€16.42
-34.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.29SEK 136
$9.53€8.26
49.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.25SEK 154
$18.73€16.22
-13.24%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12SEK 29.68
$2.65€2.29
17.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.83SEK 26.93
$2.35€2.04
20.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.61SEK 34.26
$2.09€1.81
72.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.01SEK 47.62
$2.73€2.37
83.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45SEK 13.78
$1.96€1.70
-26.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86SEK 17.69
$1.81€1.56
2.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98SEK 18.84
$1.51€1.31
31.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31SEK 12.43
$0.89€0.77
47.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.66SEK 72.8
$6.78€5.87
12.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.22SEK 97.1
$7.92€6.86
29.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86SEK 17.64
$1.37€1.19
35.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59SEK 24.64
$2.40€2.08
7.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Norrkoping
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.55SEK 33.74
$2.91€2.52
21.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$118SEK 1,120
$28.66€24.82
311.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.74SEK 54.5
$4.58€3.96
25.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66SEK 15.81
$2.04€1.77
-18.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$64.8SEK 615
$28.72€24.87
125.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99SEK 18.87
$1.82€1.58
9.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0KSEK 313.1K
$39.3K€34.0K
-16.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KSEK 330.5K
$32.5K€28.1K
7.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Norrkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103SEK 977
$187€162
-44.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.44SEK 261
$22.29€19.30
23.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.88SEK 417
$36.37€31.50
20.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Norrkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.43SEK 346
$57.5€49.82
-36.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.01SEK 399
$20.74€17.96
102.56%
Cinema Ticket
$16.03SEK 152
$10.77€9.33
48.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Norrkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$146SEK 1,386
$725€628
-79.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,415SEK 13.4K
$15.2K€13.1K
-90.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Norrkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.9SEK 749
$87.9€76.1
-10.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.57SEK 347
$36.81€31.88
-0.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.8SEK 910
$103€89.6
-7.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115SEK 1,093
$119€103
-2.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Norrkoping
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709SEK 6,734
$1,524€1,319
-53.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$604SEK 5,734
$1,227€1,062
-50.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,222SEK 11.6K
$2,727€2,362
-55.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$913SEK 8,677
$1,984€1,718
-53.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,896SEK 37.0K
$7,469€6,468
-47.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,869SEK 27.3K
$5,243€4,541
-45.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Norrkoping
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,077SEK 29.2K
$2,393€2,072
28.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.8
3.39
41.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Norrkoping: July 26, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Norrkoping and $1,524 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Norrkoping pays 29% 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 Norrkoping vs $68.0 in Barcelona. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $319, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.
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
Norrkoping vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Norrkoping and in Barcelona?
Norrkoping and Barcelona differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($1,774 vs $2,359 including rent). Norrkoping is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Norrkoping or Barcelona?
Average pay runs 29% higher in Norrkoping, 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 Norrkoping and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Norrkoping versus $1,524 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 Norrkoping and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $146 in Norrkoping versus $725 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 18% 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 $1,774 in Norrkoping versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Norrkoping but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Norrkoping the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Norrkoping 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 Norrkoping or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Norrkoping 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: Norrkoping or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Norrkoping gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Norrkoping vs other spots: cost of living compared