😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $658 in Ambon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $1,038 in Ambon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,417 in Ambon.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 276% more expensive than in Ambon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Ambon is 52% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$1.12Rp 19.8K
1573.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$13.95Rp 247.0K
397.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$3.91Rp 69.3K
252.17%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$1.50Rp 26.6K
106.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$0.47Rp 8,319
502.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.29Rp 5,068
548.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$2.48Rp 43.8K
60.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$3.49Rp 61.8K
29.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.05Rp 18.5K
20.95%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$1.04Rp 18.4K
107.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$0.88Rp 15.5K
100.00%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$1.39Rp 24.6K
269.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$7.25Rp 128.4K
146.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$2.93Rp 51.9K
229.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$7.64Rp 135.3K
163.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$2.28Rp 40.3K
42.54%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$1.32Rp 23.4K
68.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$1.70Rp 30.2K
52.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$1.29Rp 22.8K
113.95%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$1.31Rp 23.2K
68.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$1.97Rp 34.8K
7.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$0.78Rp 13.8K
98.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.41Rp 7,302
131.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$2.23Rp 39.6K
229.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$21.27Rp 376.6K
-62.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$1.94Rp 34.3K
-20.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$2.98Rp 52.8K
-6.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$0.24Rp 4,243
1195.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
$16.99Rp 300.9K
52.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$0.50Rp 8,778
554.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$0.31Rp 5,435
377.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$3.34Rp 59.2K
926.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$0.76Rp 13.5K
127.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$23.0KRp 406.6M
58.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$31.1KRp 550.3M
-1.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$77.5Rp 1.4M
141.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$5.82Rp 103.1K
160.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$19.77Rp 350.1K
90.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$18.75Rp 332.0K
198.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
$7.70Rp 136.3K
121.82%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$1.38Rp 24.5K
726.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$94.2Rp 1.7M
957.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$7,888Rp 139.7M
109.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$43.70Rp 773.8K
111.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$31.00Rp 548.9K
32.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$74.3Rp 1.3M
49.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$73.1Rp 1.3M
71.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$262Rp 4.6M
552.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$161Rp 2.9M
696.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$571Rp 10.1M
349.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$359Rp 6.4M
441.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
$1,120Rp 19.8M
582.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
$618Rp 10.9M
736.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
$126Rp 2.2M
1768.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
9.46
-66.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Ambon: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $262 in Ambon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 1769% 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 $14.00 in Ambon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $196 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 276% 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 in Ambon?
Average pay runs 1769% higher in Barcelona, 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 compared to Ambon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $262 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 $2,476 per month in Barcelona versus $658 in Ambon – a 276% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Barcelona compared to Ambon?
A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 52% 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 in Ambon?
At $658 in Ambon versus $2,476 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 $658 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 276% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.