๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,748 in Nykรถping versus $2,337 in Barcelona.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,714 in Nykรถping versus $3,468 in Barcelona.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,680 in Nykรถping versus $4,599 in Barcelona.
๐Living in Nykรถping costs roughly 25% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nykรถping30% above, Barcelona74% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Nykรถping
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.30SEKย 96.7
$17.08โฌ14.72
-39.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7SEKย 701
$69.2โฌ59.7
7.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.66SEKย 100
$13.78โฌ11.87
-22.64%
Cappuccino
$4.55SEKย 42.71
$2.76โฌ2.37
64.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68SEKย 25.13
$2.79โฌ2.40
-3.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37SEKย 22.22
$1.99โฌ1.72
19.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.74SEKย 72.6
$4.36โฌ3.76
77.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.52SEKย 70.6
$4.74โฌ4.09
58.65%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Nykรถping
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62SEKย 15.22
$1.29โฌ1.11
25.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75SEKย 25.77
$2.05โฌ1.77
34.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.78SEKย 35.50
$1.99โฌ1.71
89.95%
Eggs
$4.05SEKย 37.95
$3.39โฌ2.92
19.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.81SEKย 111
$18.81โฌ16.21
-37.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.65SEKย 109
$9.36โฌ8.07
24.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.91SEKย 159
$19.12โฌ16.48
-11.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30SEKย 21.56
$2.70โฌ2.32
-14.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.59SEKย 24.31
$2.34โฌ2.02
10.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.98SEKย 28.00
$2.12โฌ1.83
40.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.37SEKย 41.01
$2.85โฌ2.46
53.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59SEKย 14.91
$1.97โฌ1.70
-19.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86SEKย 17.48
$1.80โฌ1.55
3.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13SEKย 10.64
$1.45โฌ1.25
-22.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40SEKย 13.17
$0.86โฌ0.74
62.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.57SEKย 71.0
$6.78โฌ5.84
11.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.27SEKย 86.9
$7.90โฌ6.81
17.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98SEKย 18.55
$1.39โฌ1.20
42.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97SEKย 18.49
$2.37โฌ2.04
-16.88%
๐ Getting Around
Nykรถping
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.45SEKย 32.37
$2.92โฌ2.52
18.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.59SEKย 456
$28.69โฌ24.72
69.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.13SEKย 57.5
$4.46โฌ3.84
37.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59SEKย 14.89
$2.05โฌ1.77
-22.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.1SEKย 573
$29.55โฌ25.46
106.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03SEKย 19.08
$1.82โฌ1.56
11.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7KSEKย 306.9K
$38.8Kโฌ33.5K
-15.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8KSEKย 317.1K
$33.1Kโฌ28.5K
2.12%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nykรถping
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114SEKย 1,065
$189โฌ163
-40.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.51SEKย 267
$22.80โฌ19.65
25.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.79SEKย 223
$37.59โฌ32.39
-36.71%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Nykรถping
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.38SEKย 369
$57.7โฌ49.75
-31.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.06SEKย 235
$20.74โฌ17.87
20.83%
Cinema Ticket
$15.99SEKย 150
$10.82โฌ9.33
47.78%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Nykรถping
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$145SEKย 1,364
$728โฌ628
-80.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,215SEKย 39.5K
$14.8Kโฌ12.7K
-71.46%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Nykรถping
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.1SEKย 892
$88.6โฌ76.4
7.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.09SEKย 385
$36.85โฌ31.75
11.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.9SEKย 918
$102โฌ87.9
-4.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150SEKย 1,412
$116โฌ100
29.62%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Nykรถping
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$828SEKย 7,770
$1,569โฌ1,352
-47.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$646SEKย 6,059
$1,218โฌ1,050
-46.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,368SEKย 12.8K
$2,795โฌ2,409
-51.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,065SEKย 9,990
$1,975โฌ1,702
-46.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,500SEKย 42.2K
$7,754โฌ6,680
-41.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,118SEKย 29.2K
$5,176โฌ4,460
-39.77%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Nykรถping
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,612SEKย 24.5K
$2,343โฌ2,019
11.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
3.39
33.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nykรถping: June 9, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $828 in Nykรถping and $1,569 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐNykรถping pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $75.0 in Nykรถping vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $342 vs $319 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
Nykรถping vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Nykรถping and Barcelona?
Nykรถping and Barcelona differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($1,748 vs $2,337 including rent). Nykรถping is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Nykรถping or Barcelona?
Nykรถping pays 11% 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 Nykรถping and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $828 in Nykรถping versus $1,569 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 Nykรถping and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $145 in Nykรถping versus $728 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 7% 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 $1,748 in Nykรถping versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nykรถping but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Nykรถping the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Nykรถping and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Nykรถping or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Nykรถping 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: Nykรถping or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Nykรถping gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 34% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.