Cost of Living Comparison Between Vaxjo and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Vaxjo and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,737 in Vaxjo versus $2,320 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,640 in Vaxjo versus $3,426 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,544 in Vaxjo versus $4,532 in Barcelona.

Living in Vaxjo costs roughly 25% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vaxjo 30% above, Barcelona 74% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vaxjo
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.59 SEK 122
$17.66 €15.46
-28.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.0 SEK 658
$69.7 €61.0
-2.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 SEK 102
$14.16 €12.40
-25.56%
Cappuccino
$4.04 SEK 39.07
$2.80 €2.45
44.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 SEK 12.32
$2.81 €2.46
-54.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 SEK 12.53
$2.06 €1.81
-37.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.32 SEK 70.9
$4.60 €4.03
59.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.00 SEK 67.8
$4.69 €4.11
49.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vaxjo
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 SEK 17.14
$1.23 €1.08
43.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 SEK 22.96
$2.03 €1.78
16.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.06 SEK 39.31
$1.98 €1.73
105.05%
Eggs
$4.02 SEK 38.95
$3.49 €3.05
15.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.82 SEK 134
$18.33 €16.05
-24.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.58 SEK 112
$9.83 €8.61
17.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.82 SEK 134
$19.13 €16.75
-27.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.52 SEK 34.13
$2.73 €2.39
28.94%
Banana (1kg)
$2.69 SEK 26.07
$2.38 €2.09
13.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.55 SEK 14.97
$2.08 €1.82
-25.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.67 SEK 45.25
$2.75 €2.41
69.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 SEK 15.18
$1.96 €1.72
-19.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 SEK 19.60
$1.79 €1.57
12.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 SEK 26.94
$1.48 €1.29
87.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 SEK 16.37
$0.91 €0.80
85.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17 SEK 69.4
$7.13 €6.25
0.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.43 SEK 91.3
$7.88 €6.90
19.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 SEK 16.57
$1.38 €1.21
23.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 SEK 18.89
$2.39 €2.09
-18.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Vaxjo
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.11 SEK 30.11
$3.01 €2.64
3.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.3 SEK 652
$29.35 €25.71
129.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.64 SEK 103
$4.36 €3.82
144.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 SEK 15.46
$2.13 €1.86
-24.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.41 SEK 207
$29.60 €25.93
-27.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.97 SEK 19.11
$1.82 €1.60
8.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K SEK 315.5K
$37.9K €33.2K
-13.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K SEK 301.1K
$32.4K €28.4K
-3.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vaxjo
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.5 SEK 886
$189 €166
-51.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.97 SEK 271
$22.29 €19.52
25.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.21 SEK 312
$37.16 €32.55
-13.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vaxjo
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.24 SEK 380
$58.0 €50.8
-32.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.72 SEK 249
$20.66 €18.09
24.49%
Cinema Ticket
$16.85 SEK 163
$10.87 €9.52
55.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vaxjo
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$146 SEK 1,415
$706 €618
-79.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$731 SEK 7,076
$14.9K €13.0K
-95.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vaxjo
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107 SEK 1,035
$89.4 €78.3
19.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.93 SEK 251
$36.60 €32.06
-29.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 SEK 976
$104 €91.1
-3.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 SEK 1,379
$119 €105
19.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vaxjo
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$839 SEK 8,121
$1,579 €1,383
-46.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 SEK 6,583
$1,238 €1,084
-45.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,593 SEK 15.4K
$2,712 €2,375
-41.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$991 SEK 9,599
$2,039 €1,786
-51.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,527 €6,592
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,516 SEK 24.4K
$5,239 €4,588
-51.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vaxjo
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,239 SEK 31.4K
$2,364 €2,070
37.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.53
3.39
33.63%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Vaxjo: July 13, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $839 in Vaxjo and $1,579 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vaxjo pays 37% 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 Vaxjo vs $70.0 in Barcelona. Groceries flip the comparison at $349 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
Vaxjo vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Vaxjo and in Barcelona?
Vaxjo and Barcelona differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($1,737 vs $2,320 including rent). Vaxjo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Vaxjo or Barcelona?
Average pay runs 37% higher in Vaxjo, 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 Vaxjo and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $839 in Vaxjo 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 Vaxjo and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $146 in Vaxjo 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 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,737 in Vaxjo versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Vaxjo but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Vaxjo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Vaxjo 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 Vaxjo or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Vaxjo 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: Vaxjo or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Vaxjo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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