🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,767 in Ystad versus $2,336 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,748 in Ystad versus $3,475 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,728 in Ystad versus $4,614 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, Barcelona74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.51SEK 106
$17.45€14.88
-34.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.2SEK 848
$69.8€59.6
32.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38SEK 95.5
$13.91€11.86
-25.38%
Cappuccino
$3.94SEK 36.22
$2.74€2.34
43.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95SEK 27.17
$2.70€2.30
9.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53SEK 23.24
$2.03€1.73
24.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.22SEK 57.2
$4.51€3.85
37.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.01SEK 73.7
$4.61€3.93
73.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70SEK 15.62
$1.28€1.09
32.81%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02SEK 27.80
$2.10€1.79
43.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.19SEK 29.31
$1.99€1.70
60.30%
Eggs
$3.13SEK 28.82
$3.45€2.95
-9.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.86SEK 109
$18.61€15.87
-36.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61SEK 88.4
$9.41€8.03
2.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.59SEK 171
$18.70€15.95
-0.59%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18SEK 29.22
$2.61€2.22
21.84%
Banana(1kg)
$2.65SEK 24.35
$2.39€2.04
10.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.87SEK 26.44
$2.19€1.86
31.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.28SEK 39.42
$2.81€2.40
52.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75SEK 16.06
$2.03€1.73
-13.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86SEK 17.13
$1.87€1.60
-0.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.21SEK 20.29
$1.45€1.24
52.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56SEK 14.38
$0.92€0.79
69.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.76SEK 71.4
$6.82€5.82
13.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.73SEK 108
$7.71€6.58
52.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15SEK 19.81
$1.38€1.18
55.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52SEK 23.19
$2.33€1.99
8.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.45SEK 31.76
$2.88€2.46
19.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.0SEK 690
$29.04€24.77
158.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.08SEK 92.8
$4.43€3.78
127.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.61SEK 14.79
$2.14€1.82
-24.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.7SEK 577
$28.96€24.71
116.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86SEK 17.16
$1.90€1.62
-2.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4KSEK 242.5K
$37.9K€32.3K
-30.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5KSEK 271.1K
$33.3K€28.4K
-11.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$119SEK 1,097
$186€158
-35.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.97SEK 193
$22.17€18.91
-5.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.04SEK 295
$36.52€31.15
-12.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.24SEK 379
$58.4€49.81
-29.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.32SEK 233
$20.75€17.70
22.02%
Cinema Ticket
$12.68SEK 117
$11.10€9.47
14.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$176SEK 1,618
$705€601
-75.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,208SEK 38.7K
$15.2K€13.0K
-72.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.0SEK 478
$86.4€73.7
-39.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.35SEK 362
$36.88€31.46
6.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.7SEK 890
$104€88.8
-7.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155SEK 1,422
$115€98.4
34.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$843SEK 7,752
$1,538€1,312
-45.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$651SEK 5,992
$1,242€1,060
-47.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,374SEK 12.6K
$2,728€2,327
-49.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,078SEK 9,913
$2,011€1,716
-46.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,350SEK 40.0K
$7,155€6,104
-39.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,197SEK 29.4K
$4,843€4,131
-33.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ystad
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,012SEK 18.5K
$2,474€2,111
-18.68%
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: April 20, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $843 in Ystad and $1,538 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 23% 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: $92 in Ystad vs $70 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $318 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 32% in total monthly costs ($1,767 vs $2,336 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 23% 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: $843 in Ystad versus $1,538 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 $705 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 $1,767 in Ystad versus $2,336 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 32% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.