🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,094 in Skelleftea versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,153 in Skelleftea versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,211 in Skelleftea versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Skelleftea costs roughly 12% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Skelleftea56% above, Barcelona77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.69SEK 137
$17.58€15.12
-16.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5SEK 640
$68.4€58.9
0.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.94SEK 121
$14.06€12.09
-7.97%
Cappuccino
$4.60SEK 42.94
$2.78€2.39
65.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48SEK 23.15
$2.80€2.41
-11.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02SEK 18.83
$2.06€1.78
-1.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.77SEK 81.8
$4.46€3.84
96.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.38SEK 78.2
$4.61€3.96
81.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67SEK 15.60
$1.24€1.07
34.68%
White Bread(500g)
$2.66SEK 24.83
$2.03€1.74
31.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.15SEK 48.03
$1.92€1.65
168.23%
Eggs
$4.84SEK 45.19
$3.31€2.85
46.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.61SEK 108
$18.43€15.85
-37.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.53SEK 108
$9.49€8.16
21.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.74SEK 212
$19.16€16.48
18.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.56SEK 23.92
$2.64€2.27
-3.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56SEK 23.86
$2.45€2.11
4.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.24SEK 30.25
$2.12€1.82
52.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.65SEK 34.02
$2.85€2.45
28.07%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13SEK 19.90
$2.04€1.75
4.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.60SEK 14.97
$1.85€1.59
-13.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.30SEK 21.46
$1.47€1.26
56.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49SEK 13.94
$0.84€0.73
77.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.08SEK 66.0
$7.14€6.14
-0.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.32SEK 152
$7.88€6.78
107.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86SEK 17.37
$1.38€1.19
34.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70SEK 15.83
$2.31€1.99
-26.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.13SEK 38.57
$2.98€2.56
38.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.5SEK 537
$29.26€25.17
96.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.34SEK 77.8
$4.60€3.95
81.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.01SEK 18.80
$2.07€1.78
-2.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$59.0SEK 551
$29.18€25.10
102.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 17.63
$1.84€1.58
2.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9KSEK 306.7K
$39.0K€33.6K
-15.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KSEK 313.2K
$32.7K€28.1K
2.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174SEK 1,619
$188€162
-7.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.92SEK 298
$22.93€19.73
39.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.36SEK 265
$36.71€31.58
-22.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.29SEK 376
$57.4€49.35
-29.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.55SEK 238
$20.70€17.80
23.43%
Cinema Ticket
$15.88SEK 148
$11.19€9.63
41.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$148SEK 1,380
$721€620
-79.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,153SEK 38.8K
$15.0K€12.9K
-72.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.4SEK 927
$86.2€74.2
15.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.17SEK 384
$37.07€31.89
11.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.1SEK 794
$102€87.8
-16.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163SEK 1,524
$116€99.7
40.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,295SEK 12.1K
$1,534€1,319
-15.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$880SEK 8,208
$1,220€1,050
-27.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,760SEK 16.4K
$2,696€2,319
-34.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,408SEK 13.1K
$2,013€1,732
-30.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,771SEK 35.2K
$7,220€6,211
-47.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,201SEK 29.9K
$5,189€4,463
-38.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,693SEK 25.1K
$2,359€2,029
14.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
3.39
32.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Skelleftea: June 2, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,295 in Skelleftea and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Skelleftea pays 14% 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 Skelleftea vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $385 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
Skelleftea vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Skelleftea and Barcelona?
Skelleftea and Barcelona differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,094 vs $2,367 including rent). Skelleftea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Skelleftea or Barcelona?
Skelleftea pays 14% 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 Skelleftea and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,295 in Skelleftea 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 Skelleftea and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $148 in Skelleftea 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 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Skelleftea is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Skelleftea 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 Skelleftea or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Skelleftea 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: Skelleftea or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Skelleftea gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Skelleftea vs other spots: cost of living compared