🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,664 in Ystad versus $2,482 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,696 in Ystad versus $3,548 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,728 in Ystad versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Ystad costs roughly 33% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ystad21% above, Barcelona80% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.39SEK 120
$18.42€15.88
-32.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.0SEK 882
$69.4€59.8
31.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45SEK 101
$14.05€12.11
-25.62%
Cappuccino
$3.15SEK 30.57
$3.11€2.68
1.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06SEK 29.63
$2.96€2.55
3.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40SEK 23.23
$1.95€1.69
23.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.23SEK 70.1
$3.99€3.44
81.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.65SEK 74.1
$4.62€3.98
65.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79SEK 17.38
$1.32€1.14
35.61%
White Bread(500g)
$2.83SEK 27.42
$2.11€1.82
34.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.20SEK 31.00
$1.83€1.57
74.86%
Eggs
$3.17SEK 30.68
$5.16€4.45
-38.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.07SEK 117
$17.56€15.14
-31.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.54SEK 92.4
$9.50€8.19
0.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.30SEK 168
$19.93€17.18
-13.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.21SEK 31.13
$3.17€2.73
1.26%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57SEK 24.93
$2.21€1.91
16.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.14SEK 30.41
$2.61€2.25
20.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.51SEK 43.69
$2.85€2.46
58.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59SEK 15.40
$2.17€1.87
-26.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.75SEK 16.92
$2.11€1.81
-17.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.08SEK 20.18
$1.62€1.39
28.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73SEK 16.74
$0.88€0.76
96.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.10SEK 78.5
$7.17€6.18
12.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.72SEK 123
$8.33€7.18
52.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21SEK 21.45
$1.50€1.29
47.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35SEK 22.78
$2.75€2.37
-14.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.40SEK 33.00
$3.14€2.70
8.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.0SEK 766
$26.25€22.63
200.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.22SEK 60.3
$3.22€2.78
93.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72SEK 16.68
$1.51€1.30
13.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.5SEK 606
$35.26€30.39
77.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87SEK 18.11
$1.75€1.51
6.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8KSEK 308.1K
$36.7K€31.6K
-13.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 334.0K
$31.7K€27.3K
8.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108SEK 1,051
$187€161
-42.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.86SEK 192
$15.10€13.01
31.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.54SEK 306
$37.60€32.41
-16.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.45SEK 382
$55.5€47.83
-28.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.62SEK 287
$16.74€14.43
76.94%
Cinema Ticket
$12.52SEK 121
$11.71€10.09
6.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$187SEK 1,815
$1,011€871
-81.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,480SEK 43.4K
$17.1K€14.7K
-73.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.3SEK 507
$91.4€78.8
-42.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.97SEK 329
$41.00€35.34
-17.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.4SEK 925
$111€95.3
-13.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135SEK 1,309
$126€109
7.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825SEK 7,993
$1,704€1,469
-51.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$606SEK 5,870
$1,299€1,120
-53.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,372SEK 13.3K
$2,588€2,231
-46.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,046SEK 10.1K
$1,929€1,663
-45.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,267SEK 41.4K
$7,732€6,665
-44.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,891SEK 28.0K
$5,384€4,641
-46.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,951SEK 18.9K
$2,374€2,046
-17.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.06
3.16
-3.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ystad: September 7, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $825 in Ystad and $1,704 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 22% 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: $91.0 in Ystad vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 vs $333 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 49% in total monthly costs ($1,664 vs $2,482 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 22% 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: $825 in Ystad versus $1,704 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 $187 in Ystad versus $1,011 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 6% 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 $1,664 in Ystad versus $2,482 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 49% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.