😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,434 in Barcelona versus $502 in Abadan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,473 in Barcelona versus $802 in Abadan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,512 in Barcelona versus $1,102 in Abadan.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 384% more expensive than in Abadan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 78% above, Abadan is 63% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.80€16.09
$3.55$3.55
429.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€59.4
$16.47$16.47
321.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.08€12.05
$4.03$4.03
249.38%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.05$1.05
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.85$0.85
-
Cappuccino
$3.12€2.66
$1.02$1.02
205.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91€2.49
$0.58$0.58
401.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87€1.60
$1.11$1.11
68.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.00€3.42
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.64€3.97
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19€1.02
$1.09$1.09
9.17%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.82
$0.46$0.46
363.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84€1.57
$1.88$1.88
-2.13%
Eggs
$5.13€4.39
$1.10$1.10
366.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.39€14.02
$2.59$2.59
532.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.71€8.31
$3.42$3.42
183.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.65€16.81
$8.30$8.30
136.75%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13€2.68
$0.86$0.86
263.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.87
$1.54$1.54
41.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.46€2.11
$0.85$0.85
189.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77€2.37
$0.59$0.59
369.49%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$0.63$0.63
236.51%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23€1.90
$0.51$0.51
337.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.27
$0.56$0.56
166.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.78
$0.17$0.17
435.29%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.60$0.60
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.46$0.46
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.43$1.43
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.26€6.21
$2.24$2.24
224.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.29€7.09
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.32
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.30
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.07€2.63
$0.19$0.19
1515.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.93€22.18
$5.35$5.35
384.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.34€2.86
$0.41$0.41
714.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.88€1.61
$0.31$0.31
506.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.98€29.92
$1.78$1.78
1865.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74€1.49
$0.09$0.09
1833.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K€31.2K
$59.3K$59.3K
-38.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K€27.0K
$44.2K$44.2K
-28.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183€156
$11.44$11.44
1498.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.70€13.43
$1.64$1.64
857.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.73€31.42
$3.17$3.17
1058.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5€45.76
$19.72$19.72
171.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.13€14.65
$14.07$14.07
21.75%
Cinema Ticket
$11.51€9.85
$2.01$2.01
472.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$952€815
$111$111
755.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K€13.8K
$904$904
1689.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.5€70.5
$22.35$22.35
268.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.47€34.62
$28.83$28.83
40.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€92.2
$98.2$98.2
9.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€107
$69.1$69.1
81.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,668€1,426
$283$283
488.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,288€1,101
$190$190
578.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,663€2,278
$515$515
416.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,904€1,628
$285$285
567.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,513€6,427
$721$721
942.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,178€4,429
$1,045$1,045
395.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Abadan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,451€2,096
$451$451
443.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.12
23
-86.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: August 17, 2026
Last update for Abadan: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,668 in Barcelona and $283 in Abadan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 444% 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: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $16.00 in Abadan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $328 vs $104 per month, with Abadan 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
Barcelona vs Abadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abadan cheaper than Barcelona?
Abadan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 384% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Barcelona or Abadan?
Average pay runs 444% 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: $1,668 in Barcelona versus $283 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 $16.00 versus $69.0 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 $2,434 per month in Barcelona versus $502 in Abadan – a 384% 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 $502 in Abadan versus $2,434 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 384% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.