Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Abadan

For one person, living is cheaper in Abadan: $513 a month against $2,399 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $22,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,399
/mo nomad
Abadan
🇮🇷 Iran
$513
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barcelona and in Abadan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Barcelona and in Abadan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $513 in Abadan.

  • Barcelona $2,399
  • Abadan $513

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,410 in Barcelona versus $820 in Abadan.

  • Barcelona $3,410
  • Abadan $820

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,421 in Barcelona versus $1,127 in Abadan.

  • Barcelona $4,421
  • Abadan $1,127

Living in Barcelona is roughly 367% more expensive than in Abadan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 78% above, Abadan is 62% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.94 €15.96
$2.95 $2.95
508.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1 €60.5
$16.62 $16.62
309.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.28 €11.81
$4.12 $4.12
222.33%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.60 $0.60
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.97 $0.97
-
Cappuccino
$3.25 €2.89
$0.99 $0.99
228.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 €2.67
$0.45 $0.45
568.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 €1.66
$0.87 $0.87
114.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.85 €3.42
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 €3.98
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 €1.15
$1.08 $1.08
19.44%
White Bread (500g)
$2.04 €1.81
$0.45 $0.45
353.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 €1.53
$2.25 $2.25
-23.56%
Eggs
$4.77 €4.24
$1.17 $1.17
307.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.77 €14.92
$5.03 $5.03
233.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.93 €7.94
$3.17 $3.17
181.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.88 €17.68
$9.02 $9.02
120.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 €2.65
$1.16 $1.16
156.90%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 €1.80
$1.81 $1.81
12.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.73 €2.43
$0.89 $0.89
206.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.68 €2.38
$0.56 $0.56
378.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.10 €1.87
$0.53 $0.53
296.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 €1.85
$0.46 $0.46
352.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$0.49 $0.49
195.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 €0.79
$0.24 $0.24
270.83%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.91 $0.91
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.48 $0.48
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.39 $1.39
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.94 €6.17
$2.53 $2.53
174.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.78 €6.92
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 €1.29
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 €2.29
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.99 €2.66
$0.14 $0.14
2035.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.20 €22.41
$9.69 $9.69
160.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 €2.77
$0.39 $0.39
700.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 €1.28
$0.31 $0.31
364.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.50 €29.80
$2.32 $2.32
1343.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.79 €1.59
$0.09 $0.09
1888.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K €30.8K
$49.4K $49.4K
-29.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K €26.7K
$44.4K $44.4K
-32.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 €158
$13.48 $13.48
1219.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.32 €11.85
$1.63 $1.63
717.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.88 €31.03
$3.55 $3.55
882.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.3 €47.37
$17.76 $17.76
199.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.01 €14.24
$12.51 $12.51
27.98%
Cinema Ticket
$11.06 €9.84
$2.03 $2.03
444.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$957 €851
$108 $108
785.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K €14.7K
$2,343 $2,343
607.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.2 €78.4
$20.38 $20.38
332.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.49 €35.12
$27.95 $27.95
41.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €91.5
$105 $105
-2.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €108
$79.5 $79.5
52.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 €1,470
$288 $288
473.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,302 €1,158
$186 $186
601.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,557 €2,275
$774 $774
230.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,915 €1,703
$318 $318
502.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,286 €6,481
$709 $709
927.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,080 €4,519
$1,022 $1,022
396.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,281 €2,029
$444 $444
413.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.28
24.3
-86.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: October 11, 2026

Last update for Abadan: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
$1.3K
Abadan
$186 85.7% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
$320
Abadan
$117 63.3% $203
Eating Out
Barcelona
$270
Abadan
$53 80.3% $217
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
$226
Abadan
$19 91.7% $207
Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
$158
Abadan
$105 33.9% $54
Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
$75
Abadan
$22 71% $54
Getting Around
Barcelona
$47
Abadan
$12 74.3% $35

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Barcelona and $288 in Abadan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 414% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $17.00 in Abadan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $117 per month, with Abadan cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🇮🇷 Abadan
🕒 Local time
13:29 1:29 PM
14:59 2:59 PM
1 h 30 min ahead of Barcelona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,660,122
231,476
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

USD exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barcelona Abadan 4,270 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Barcelona
  • Abadan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Barcelona vs Abadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abadan cheaper than Barcelona?
Abadan is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 367% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Barcelona or Abadan?
Average pay runs 414% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Barcelona and Abadan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Barcelona versus $288 in Abadan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Barcelona or in Abadan?
Dining out is cheaper in Abadan – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Barcelona and in Abadan?
All in, you'll spend $2,399 per month in Barcelona versus $513 in Abadan – a 367% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Barcelona or in Abadan?
At $513 in Abadan versus $2,399 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Abadan but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Abadan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Barcelona or Abadan more family-friendly?
For families, Abadan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Barcelona, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Barcelona or Abadan?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Abadan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Abadan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 367% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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