😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $668 in Ambon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,023 in Ambon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $1,378 in Ambon.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 254% more expensive than Ambon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Ambon is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$0.96Rp 17.2K
1731.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$12.24Rp 218.5K
459.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$3.32Rp 59.3K
323.49%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$1.66Rp 29.7K
67.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$0.54Rp 9,671
418.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.24Rp 4,282
758.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$2.53Rp 45.1K
76.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$3.49Rp 62.3K
32.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.23Rp 21.9K
0.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$1.17Rp 20.8K
73.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$0.93Rp 16.5K
106.45%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$1.59Rp 28.4K
108.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$7.96Rp 142.1K
131.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$3.14Rp 56.1K
202.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$7.84Rp 140.0K
144.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$2.30Rp 41.1K
14.78%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.49Rp 26.7K
64.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$1.80Rp 32.2K
17.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$1.54Rp 27.6K
85.06%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.32Rp 23.6K
54.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$1.95Rp 34.8K
-5.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$0.90Rp 16.1K
63.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.41Rp 7,310
104.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$2.45Rp 43.7K
191.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$21.81Rp 389.4K
-63.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$2.08Rp 37.2K
-33.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$3.11Rp 55.6K
-25.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$0.30Rp 5,302
893.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
$10.07Rp 179.8K
190.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$0.53Rp 9,472
767.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$0.34Rp 6,137
508.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$2.90Rp 51.8K
906.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$0.77Rp 13.7K
138.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$24.1KRp 430.3M
61.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$27.7KRp 494.3M
18.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$70.9Rp 1.3M
165.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$4.34Rp 77.5K
428.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$22.70Rp 405.3K
61.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$23.39Rp 417.7K
145.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
$6.25Rp 111.6K
231.20%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$3.02Rp 53.9K
270.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$93.0Rp 1.7M
675.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$7,536Rp 134.6M
99.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$41.81Rp 746.6K
106.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$30.35Rp 542.0K
22.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$67.9Rp 1.2M
50.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$73.0Rp 1.3M
58.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$261Rp 4.7M
487.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$159Rp 2.8M
669.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$594Rp 10.6M
353.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$335Rp 6.0M
500.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
$1,080Rp 19.3M
568.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
$711Rp 12.7M
629.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
$175Rp 3.1M
1251.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
9.15
-62.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ambon: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $261 in Ambon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 1252% 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 $12.00 in Ambon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $209 per month, with Ambon 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 Ambon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Barcelona or Ambon?
Ambon wins on cost – living expenses run 254% lower than in Barcelona. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ambon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Barcelona or Ambon?
Barcelona pays 1252% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Barcelona vs Ambon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $261 in Ambon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Barcelona compared to Ambon?
All in, you'll spend $2,367 per month in Barcelona versus $668 in Ambon – a 254% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Barcelona vs Ambon?
A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 191% less than in Barcelona. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Barcelona or Ambon?
At $668 in Ambon versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ambon but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Ambon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Barcelona or Ambon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ambon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $668 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ambon hard to pass up.
How safe is Barcelona compared to Ambon?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Ambon 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ambon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 254% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.