Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Ambon

For one person, living is cheaper in Ambon: $588 a month against $2,443 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $22,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Barcelona, Spain
Ambon, Indonesia
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,443
/mo nomad
Ambon
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$588
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barcelona and in Ambon

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 Ambon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,443 in Barcelona versus $588 in Ambon.

  • Barcelona $2,443
  • Ambon $588

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,519 in Barcelona versus $995 in Ambon.

  • Barcelona $3,519
  • Ambon $995

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,595 in Barcelona versus $1,401 in Ambon.

  • Barcelona $4,595
  • Ambon $1,401

Living in Barcelona is roughly 315% more expensive than in Ambon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Ambon is 56% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 €15.73
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
1490.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.1
$14.28 Rp 258.0K
372.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.61 €12.13
$3.83 Rp 69.2K
255.35%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.76
$1.49 Rp 26.9K
108.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 €2.67
$0.46 Rp 8,342
552.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 €1.72
$0.28 Rp 4,980
589.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.84 €3.42
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
72.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 €3.88
$3.46 Rp 62.6K
26.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 €1.11
$1.03 Rp 18.7K
21.36%
White Bread (500g)
$2.12 €1.89
$0.98 Rp 17.6K
116.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 €1.76
$0.79 Rp 14.3K
149.37%
Eggs
$4.76 €4.24
$1.37 Rp 24.7K
247.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.07 €15.20
$7.18 Rp 129.7K
137.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.96 €7.98
$2.85 Rp 51.5K
214.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.65 €18.39
$7.47 Rp 135.0K
176.44%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 €2.82
$2.18 Rp 39.4K
44.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$1.31 Rp 23.6K
50.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 €2.36
$1.60 Rp 28.8K
65.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.88 €2.57
$1.24 Rp 22.4K
132.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 €1.83
$1.28 Rp 23.1K
60.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 €1.94
$1.90 Rp 34.4K
14.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.53 €1.37
$0.80 Rp 14.4K
91.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 €0.86
$0.40 Rp 7,176
142.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.97 €6.21
$2.19 Rp 39.6K
218.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 €7.03
$20.54 Rp 371.3K
-61.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 €1.26
$1.81 Rp 32.7K
-21.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 €2.39
$2.92 Rp 52.8K
-7.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.31 €2.95
$0.25 Rp 4,538
1224.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.61 €22.81
$11.45 Rp 206.9K
123.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 €2.75
$0.50 Rp 9,119
516.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 €1.32
$0.29 Rp 5,330
410.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.87 €29.28
$2.71 Rp 48.9K
1112.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 €1.66
$0.80 Rp 14.4K
133.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K €29.4K
$23.7K Rp 428.4M
39.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K €28.5K
$35.6K Rp 642.8M
-10.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 €163
$55.9 Rp 1.0M
227.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.24 €12.69
$5.62 Rp 101.6K
153.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.56 €30.79
$19.16 Rp 346.3K
80.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.4 €45.81
$18.90 Rp 341.5K
172.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.38 €14.60
$7.07 Rp 127.7K
131.68%
Cinema Ticket
$11.06 €9.86
$1.41 Rp 25.5K
684.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$944 €841
$94.9 Rp 1.7M
894.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.3K €19.8K
$8,975 Rp 162.2M
148.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7 €78.1
$43.58 Rp 787.6K
101.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.77 €34.54
$27.84 Rp 503.2K
39.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.1
$75.7 Rp 1.4M
38.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 €105
$70.6 Rp 1.3M
66.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,697 €1,512
$211 Rp 3.8M
704.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 €1,191
$124 Rp 2.2M
974.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,692 €2,398
$612 Rp 11.1M
340.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,077 €1,850
$420 Rp 7.6M
394.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,155 €6,373
$1,295 Rp 23.4M
452.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,079 €4,524
$756 Rp 13.7M
571.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Ambon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,241 €1,997
$121 Rp 2.2M
1746.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.19
9.45
-66.24%

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

Last update for Barcelona: November 2, 2026

Last update for Ambon: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
$1.3K
Ambon
$124 90.7% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
$328
Ambon
$190 42.1% $138
Eating Out
Barcelona
$267
Ambon
$59 77.8% $208
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
$232
Ambon
$81 65.2% $151
Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
$157
Ambon
$98 37.5% $59
Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
$74
Ambon
$22 70.5% $52
Getting Around
Barcelona
$49
Ambon
$14 70.8% $35

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,697 in Barcelona and $211 in Ambon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays about 18 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $67 in Barcelona vs $14 in Ambon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $328 vs $190 per month, with Ambon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🇮🇩 Ambon
🕒 Local time
15:50 3:50 PM
23:50 11:50 PM
8 h ahead of Barcelona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,660,122
275,888
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 0.891 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 18,075 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.53 USD). 1 EUR = 20,311 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.92 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barcelona Ambon 13,220 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Barcelona
  • Ambon

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 Ambon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Barcelona or Ambon?
Ambon wins on cost – living expenses run 76% 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 in Barcelona is about 18 times higher, 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: $1,697 in Barcelona versus $211 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 $2,443 per month in Barcelona versus $588 in Ambon – Ambon is about 76% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Barcelona compared to Ambon?
A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 55% less than in Barcelona. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Can you live on $800/month in Barcelona or in Ambon?
At $588 in Ambon versus $2,443 in Barcelona, a $800 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 offers a better quality of life: Barcelona or Ambon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Barcelona compared to Ambon?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Ambon are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ambon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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