🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,760 in Ystad versus $2,337 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,784 in Ystad versus $3,468 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,809 in Ystad versus $4,599 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Ystad costs roughly 25% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ystad31% above, Barcelona74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51SEK 109
$17.08€14.80
-32.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.6SEK 859
$69.2€60.0
30.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.49SEK 99.4
$13.78€11.95
-23.88%
Cappuccino
$3.96SEK 37.59
$2.76€2.39
43.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00SEK 28.44
$2.79€2.42
7.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61SEK 24.74
$1.99€1.73
31.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.51SEK 61.8
$4.36€3.78
49.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.07SEK 76.6
$4.74€4.11
70.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76SEK 16.70
$1.29€1.12
36.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.93SEK 27.75
$2.05€1.78
42.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.20SEK 30.36
$1.99€1.72
60.80%
Eggs
$3.13SEK 29.71
$3.39€2.94
-7.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.68SEK 111
$18.81€16.31
-37.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.71SEK 92.1
$9.36€8.12
3.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.89SEK 179
$19.12€16.57
-1.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14SEK 29.73
$2.70€2.34
16.30%
Banana(1kg)
$2.67SEK 25.30
$2.34€2.03
14.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.04SEK 28.82
$2.12€1.84
43.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.32SEK 40.98
$2.85€2.47
51.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66SEK 15.73
$1.97€1.71
-15.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95SEK 18.46
$1.80€1.56
8.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.21SEK 20.92
$1.45€1.26
52.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62SEK 15.33
$0.86€0.74
88.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.11SEK 76.9
$6.78€5.87
19.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.78SEK 121
$7.90€6.85
61.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26SEK 21.43
$1.39€1.20
62.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63SEK 24.90
$2.37€2.06
10.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.35SEK 31.80
$2.92€2.53
14.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.1SEK 703
$28.69€24.86
158.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.44SEK 99.0
$4.46€3.86
134.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59SEK 15.07
$2.05€1.78
-22.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.7SEK 595
$29.55€25.61
112.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88SEK 17.84
$1.82€1.57
3.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0KSEK 246.4K
$38.8K€33.7K
-33.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7KSEK 281.7K
$33.1K€28.7K
-10.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121SEK 1,150
$189€164
-35.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.71SEK 196
$22.80€19.76
-9.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.16SEK 295
$37.59€32.58
-17.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.52SEK 384
$57.7€50.1
-29.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.39SEK 241
$20.74€17.98
22.42%
Cinema Ticket
$12.76SEK 121
$10.82€9.38
17.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$176SEK 1,670
$728€631
-75.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,200SEK 39.8K
$14.8K€12.8K
-71.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4SEK 497
$88.6€76.8
-40.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.20SEK 372
$36.85€31.94
6.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.8SEK 918
$102€88.4
-5.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151SEK 1,434
$116€101
30.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$848SEK 8,045
$1,569€1,360
-45.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$644SEK 6,104
$1,218€1,056
-47.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,396SEK 13.2K
$2,795€2,423
-50.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,067SEK 10.1K
$1,975€1,712
-45.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,373SEK 41.5K
$7,754€6,720
-43.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,924SEK 27.7K
$5,176€4,486
-43.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,915SEK 18.2K
$2,343€2,031
-18.27%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $848 in Ystad and $1,569 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 $357 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 Barcelona?
Ystad and Barcelona differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($1,760 vs $2,337 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, Barcelona earns 22% less. 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 Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $848 in Ystad versus $1,569 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 $176 in Ystad versus $728 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 12% 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 $1,760 in Ystad versus $2,337 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 33% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.