Cost of Living Comparison Between Ystad and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Ystad and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Ystad 21% above, Barcelona 80% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.39 SEK 120
$18.42 €15.88
-32.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.0 SEK 882
$69.4 €59.8
31.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.45 SEK 101
$14.05 €12.11
-25.62%
Cappuccino
$3.15 SEK 30.57
$3.11 €2.68
1.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 SEK 29.63
$2.96 €2.55
3.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 SEK 23.23
$1.95 €1.69
23.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.23 SEK 70.1
$3.99 €3.44
81.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.65 SEK 74.1
$4.62 €3.98
65.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 SEK 17.38
$1.32 €1.14
35.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.83 SEK 27.42
$2.11 €1.82
34.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.20 SEK 31.00
$1.83 €1.57
74.86%
Eggs
$3.17 SEK 30.68
$5.16 €4.45
-38.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.07 SEK 117
$17.56 €15.14
-31.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.54 SEK 92.4
$9.50 €8.19
0.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.30 SEK 168
$19.93 €17.18
-13.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.21 SEK 31.13
$3.17 €2.73
1.26%
Banana (1kg)
$2.57 SEK 24.93
$2.21 €1.91
16.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.14 SEK 30.41
$2.61 €2.25
20.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 SEK 43.69
$2.85 €2.46
58.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 SEK 15.40
$2.17 €1.87
-26.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.75 SEK 16.92
$2.11 €1.81
-17.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 SEK 20.18
$1.62 €1.39
28.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 SEK 16.74
$0.88 €0.76
96.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.10 SEK 78.5
$7.17 €6.18
12.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.72 SEK 123
$8.33 €7.18
52.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 SEK 21.45
$1.50 €1.29
47.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 SEK 22.78
$2.75 €2.37
-14.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.40 SEK 33.00
$3.14 €2.70
8.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.0 SEK 766
$26.25 €22.63
200.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 SEK 60.3
$3.22 €2.78
93.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 SEK 16.68
$1.51 €1.30
13.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$62.5 SEK 606
$35.26 €30.39
77.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 SEK 18.11
$1.75 €1.51
6.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K SEK 308.1K
$36.7K €31.6K
-13.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K SEK 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)
$108 SEK 1,051
$187 €161
-42.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.86 SEK 192
$15.10 €13.01
31.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.54 SEK 306
$37.60 €32.41
-16.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.45 SEK 382
$55.5 €47.83
-28.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.62 SEK 287
$16.74 €14.43
76.94%
Cinema Ticket
$12.52 SEK 121
$11.71 €10.09
6.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$187 SEK 1,815
$1,011 €871
-81.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,480 SEK 43.4K
$17.1K €14.7K
-73.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.3 SEK 507
$91.4 €78.8
-42.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.97 SEK 329
$41.00 €35.34
-17.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 SEK 925
$111 €95.3
-13.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 SEK 1,309
$126 €109
7.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$825 SEK 7,993
$1,704 €1,469
-51.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$606 SEK 5,870
$1,299 €1,120
-53.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,372 SEK 13.3K
$2,588 €2,231
-46.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,046 SEK 10.1K
$1,929 €1,663
-45.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,267 SEK 41.4K
$7,732 €6,665
-44.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,891 SEK 28.0K
$5,384 €4,641
-46.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,951 SEK 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.

Ystad vs other spots: cost of living compared

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