😐A single person spends $2,341 per month in Barcelona vs $1,114 in Adama, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,462 per month in Barcelona vs $1,756 in Adama, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,582 per month in Barcelona vs $2,399 in Adama, rent included.
😐Barcelona costs about 110% more than Adama, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Barcelona sits 75% above the global median, while Adama is 17% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Adama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$3.05ETB 477
477.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$35.58ETB 5,561
93.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$5.04ETB 788
172.82%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$1.28ETB 201
115.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$0.67ETB 105
314.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.31ETB 48.66
561.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$1.01ETB 158
356.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$2.96ETB 463
55.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Adama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.46ETB 228
-12.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$1.27ETB 199
66.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$2.12ETB 332
-7.08%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$2.52ETB 393
36.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$7.27ETB 1,137
159.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$13.73ETB 2,145
-31.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$13.38ETB 2,091
42.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$6.79ETB 1,061
-59.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$1.02ETB 160
132.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$2.23ETB 349
-6.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$0.92ETB 144
200.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$0.63ETB 98.2
212.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.91ETB 299
-6.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$0.70ETB 110
115.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.63ETB 98.5
42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$3.92ETB 613
72.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$5.74ETB 896
31.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.04ETB 162
38.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$1.82ETB 284
32.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Adama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$1.45ETB 226
205.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$0.29ETB 45.92
606.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$2.03ETB 317
1344.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.30ETB 202
45.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$54.4KETB 8.5M
-28.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$54.8KETB 8.6M
-40.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Adama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$162ETB 25.3K
16.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$12.16ETB 1,900
82.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$133ETB 20.8K
-72.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Adama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$5.87ETB 917
88.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Adama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$79.7ETB 12.5K
811.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$39.9KETB 6.2M
-61.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Adama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$48.05ETB 7,509
83.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$74.0ETB 11.6K
-50.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$94.1ETB 14.7K
9.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$116ETB 18.1K
3.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Adama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$496ETB 77.6K
207.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$304ETB 47.5K
301.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$982ETB 153.5K
184.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$813ETB 127.1K
149.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Adama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$102ETB 15.9K
2263.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
17
-80.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Adama: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,526 in Barcelona versus $496 in Adama. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 2263% higher in Barcelona, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Barcelona versus $36.00 in Adama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $266 – making Adama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Adama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Barcelona and Adama compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona, $1,114 in Adama – roughly 110% apart. Barcelona costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Adama?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,512 per month in Barcelona and $1,671 in Adama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Barcelona and Adama?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Adama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Barcelona and $36.00 in Adama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 20% more in Barcelona, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Adama, where all-in costs run around $1,114, than in Barcelona at $2,341. In Adama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barcelona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Adama?
It depends on your priorities. Barcelona has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,114 in Adama to $2,341 in Barcelona. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Barcelona or Adama safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Barcelona and Adama?
If budget matters most, go with Adama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Barcelona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.