🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,769 in Ystad versus $2,316 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,726 in Ystad versus $3,458 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,683 in Ystad versus $4,601 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Ystad costs roughly 24% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ystad32% above, Barcelona73% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51SEK 112
$17.19€15.11
-33.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.1SEK 914
$70.7€62.2
33.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.36SEK 101
$14.02€12.33
-26.11%
Cappuccino
$3.95SEK 38.39
$2.78€2.45
42.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08SEK 29.91
$2.78€2.44
10.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62SEK 25.41
$2.05€1.80
27.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.14SEK 59.7
$4.52€3.97
35.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86SEK 76.4
$4.67€4.11
68.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76SEK 17.07
$1.29€1.14
36.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.97SEK 28.81
$2.14€1.88
38.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.34SEK 32.44
$1.93€1.70
73.06%
Eggs
$3.09SEK 29.97
$3.49€3.07
-11.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.61SEK 113
$18.52€16.28
-37.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.60SEK 93.3
$9.53€8.38
0.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.57SEK 180
$18.90€16.62
-1.75%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10SEK 30.06
$2.62€2.31
18.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.77SEK 26.92
$2.34€2.06
18.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.87SEK 27.89
$2.08€1.83
37.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.22SEK 40.96
$2.85€2.50
48.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67SEK 16.22
$1.96€1.72
-14.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87SEK 18.18
$1.85€1.63
1.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.26SEK 21.97
$1.53€1.35
47.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56SEK 15.17
$0.90€0.79
73.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.00SEK 77.7
$6.77€5.95
18.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.14SEK 118
$7.79€6.85
55.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19SEK 21.26
$1.38€1.21
58.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50SEK 24.26
$2.32€2.04
7.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.35SEK 32.52
$3.00€2.63
11.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.7SEK 725
$28.62€25.16
160.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.19SEK 99.0
$4.58€4.02
122.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65SEK 16.06
$2.13€1.87
-22.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.6SEK 598
$29.55€25.98
108.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87SEK 18.21
$1.80€1.58
3.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KSEK 255.3K
$38.5K€33.8K
-31.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5KSEK 286.2K
$33.3K€29.2K
-11.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120SEK 1,169
$185€163
-34.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.33SEK 207
$22.68€19.94
-5.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.14SEK 312
$36.78€32.33
-12.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.38SEK 392
$57.8€50.8
-30.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.42SEK 247
$21.19€18.63
19.96%
Cinema Ticket
$12.58SEK 122
$10.83€9.52
16.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$173SEK 1,677
$727€639
-76.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,082SEK 39.6K
$14.7K€13.0K
-72.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4SEK 509
$87.6€77.0
-40.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33SEK 382
$37.37€32.85
5.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0SEK 932
$103€90.8
-7.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155SEK 1,504
$119€104
30.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$823SEK 7,994
$1,560€1,372
-47.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653SEK 6,346
$1,221€1,073
-46.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,380SEK 13.4K
$2,742€2,411
-49.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,065SEK 10.3K
$1,992€1,751
-46.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,121SEK 40.0K
$7,489€6,584
-44.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,813SEK 27.3K
$5,207€4,578
-45.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,895SEK 18.4K
$2,355€2,070
-19.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
3.39
17.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ystad: July 21, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $823 in Ystad and $1,560 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 24% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $94.0 in Ystad vs $71.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 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
Ystad vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ystad and in Barcelona?
Ystad and Barcelona differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($1,769 vs $2,316 including rent). Ystad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 24% lower in Barcelona. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ystad and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $823 in Ystad versus $1,560 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 Ystad and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $173 in Ystad versus $727 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 11% 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 $1,769 in Ystad versus $2,316 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ystad but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Ystad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ystad 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 Ystad or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ystad 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: Ystad or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Ystad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.