🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,107 in Skelleftea versus $2,320 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,130 in Skelleftea versus $3,426 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,154 in Skelleftea versus $4,532 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Skelleftea costs roughly 9% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Skelleftea58% above, Barcelona74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.85SEK 143
$17.66€15.43
-15.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.2SEK 657
$69.7€60.9
-2.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.24SEK 128
$14.16€12.37
-6.50%
Cappuccino
$4.80SEK 46.22
$2.80€2.45
71.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54SEK 24.43
$2.81€2.46
-9.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99SEK 19.18
$2.06€1.80
-3.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.21SEK 88.7
$4.60€4.02
100.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.56SEK 82.5
$4.69€4.10
82.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67SEK 16.13
$1.23€1.07
35.77%
White Bread(500g)
$2.63SEK 25.30
$2.03€1.78
29.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.14SEK 49.55
$1.98€1.73
159.60%
Eggs
$4.77SEK 45.99
$3.49€3.05
36.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.52SEK 111
$18.33€16.01
-37.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.31SEK 109
$9.83€8.59
15.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.58SEK 218
$19.13€16.71
18.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.66SEK 25.68
$2.73€2.38
-2.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.63SEK 25.34
$2.38€2.08
10.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.24SEK 31.19
$2.08€1.82
55.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.79SEK 36.55
$2.75€2.41
37.82%
Potato(1kg)
$2.14SEK 20.62
$1.96€1.71
9.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.59SEK 15.36
$1.79€1.57
-11.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.39SEK 23.03
$1.48€1.29
61.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52SEK 14.62
$0.91€0.80
67.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.21SEK 69.5
$7.13€6.23
1.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.72SEK 151
$7.88€6.88
99.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86SEK 17.93
$1.38€1.20
34.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67SEK 16.08
$2.39€2.09
-30.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.19SEK 40.42
$3.01€2.63
39.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.2SEK 551
$29.35€25.65
94.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.23SEK 79.3
$4.36€3.81
88.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.99SEK 19.16
$2.13€1.86
-6.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$60.2SEK 580
$29.60€25.86
103.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92SEK 18.49
$1.82€1.59
5.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9KSEK 316.9K
$37.9K€33.1K
-13.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 332.8K
$32.4K€28.3K
6.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171SEK 1,646
$189€165
-9.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.44SEK 303
$22.29€19.48
41.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.25SEK 272
$37.16€32.47
-23.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.08SEK 386
$58.0€50.7
-30.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.39SEK 245
$20.66€18.05
22.89%
Cinema Ticket
$16.00SEK 154
$10.87€9.50
47.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$151SEK 1,456
$706€617
-78.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,070SEK 39.2K
$14.9K€13.0K
-72.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.5SEK 950
$89.4€78.2
10.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.03SEK 405
$36.60€31.98
14.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.8SEK 807
$104€90.9
-19.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165SEK 1,588
$119€104
38.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,278SEK 12.3K
$1,579€1,379
-19.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$876SEK 8,446
$1,238€1,082
-29.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,750SEK 16.9K
$2,712€2,370
-35.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,382SEK 13.3K
$2,039€1,782
-32.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,880SEK 37.4K
$7,527€6,576
-48.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,733SEK 26.3K
$5,239€4,577
-47.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skelleftea
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,600SEK 25.1K
$2,364€2,065
9.97%
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,278 in Skelleftea and $1,579 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Skelleftea pays 10% 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 Skelleftea vs $70.0 in Barcelona. Groceries flip the comparison at $384 vs $320, 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
Skelleftea vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Skelleftea and in Barcelona?
Skelleftea and Barcelona differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($2,107 vs $2,320 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?
Average pay runs 10% higher in Skelleftea, 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 in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,278 in Skelleftea 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 Skelleftea and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $151 in Skelleftea 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 20% 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 $2,107 in Skelleftea versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Skelleftea but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Skelleftea the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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 10% 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