😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $1,239 in Antigua Guatemala.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $2,103 in Antigua Guatemala.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $2,967 in Antigua Guatemala.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 100% more expensive than in Antigua Guatemala, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Antigua Guatemala is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$6.82Q 52.0
174.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$52.6Q 401
32.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$7.72Q 58.9
78.37%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$3.30Q 25.14
-6.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$1.16Q 8.82
143.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.89Q 6.75
111.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$3.20Q 24.38
24.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$4.83Q 36.78
-6.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.99Q 15.17
-36.18%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$2.84Q 21.63
-23.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.98Q 15.07
-11.11%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$2.42Q 18.45
111.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$5.34Q 40.69
234.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$9.18Q 70.0
5.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$10.53Q 80.2
91.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$3.80Q 28.98
-14.47%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$1.72Q 13.10
29.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$2.87Q 21.88
-9.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$1.58Q 12.05
74.68%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$1.56Q 11.85
41.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$1.72Q 13.07
23.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$0.68Q 5.20
127.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$1.19Q 9.08
-20.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$4.04Q 30.82
81.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$7.94Q 60.5
1.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$1.79Q 13.64
-13.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$2.64Q 20.14
5.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$2.55Q 19.43
21.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$4.71Q 35.89
-30.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$10.44Q 79.6
228.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$1.18Q 8.99
46.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$22.8KQ 173.9K
59.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$21.5KQ 164.1K
41.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$58.6Q 447
219.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$28.97Q 221
-47.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$44.93Q 342
-16.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$41.21Q 314
35.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
$27.35Q 208
-37.55%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$6.56Q 49.98
73.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$340Q 2,589
193.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$6,608Q 50.4K
150.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$43.74Q 333
111.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$47.86Q 365
-13.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$92.5Q 705
20.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$77.6Q 591
61.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$884Q 6,736
93.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$529Q 4,030
143.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$1,933Q 14.7K
32.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$1,197Q 9,125
62.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
$3,003Q 22.9K
154.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
$1,203Q 9,167
329.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
$630Q 4,798
273.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
11.62
-72.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Antigua Guatemala: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $884 in Antigua Guatemala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 273% 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 $53.0 in Antigua Guatemala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $263 per month, with Antigua Guatemala 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 Antigua Guatemala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Antigua Guatemala?
Barcelona and Antigua Guatemala differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $1,239 including rent). Antigua Guatemala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Antigua Guatemala?
Average pay runs 273% 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 do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Antigua Guatemala?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $884 in Antigua Guatemala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Antigua Guatemala?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $340 in Antigua Guatemala. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Antigua Guatemala – a meal for two runs $53.0 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,239 in Antigua Guatemala versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Antigua Guatemala but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Antigua Guatemala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Antigua Guatemala?
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.
Is Barcelona or Antigua Guatemala safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Antigua Guatemala are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Antigua Guatemala?
Expats usually find Antigua Guatemala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.