😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $1,281 in Antigua Guatemala.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $2,115 in Antigua Guatemala.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $2,950 in Antigua Guatemala.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 81% more expensive than in Antigua Guatemala, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Antigua Guatemala is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$5.19Q 39.52
240.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$53.3Q 406
30.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$6.35Q 48.39
122.99%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$3.42Q 26.03
-18.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$1.19Q 9.07
136.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.97Q 7.38
112.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$3.92Q 29.88
17.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$4.69Q 35.70
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.91Q 14.53
-35.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$3.18Q 24.19
-36.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.59Q 12.09
24.53%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$2.53Q 19.30
37.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$7.46Q 56.9
145.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$8.45Q 64.4
16.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$10.18Q 77.6
87.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$3.65Q 27.80
-25.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$1.52Q 11.55
56.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$3.15Q 24.01
-33.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$1.59Q 12.11
72.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$1.75Q 13.33
12.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$1.77Q 13.47
1.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$0.73Q 5.58
102.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$1.20Q 9.14
-24.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$3.56Q 27.13
100.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$8.07Q 61.5
-2.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.67Q 12.76
-17.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$2.51Q 19.15
-4.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$2.05Q 15.60
46.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$4.71Q 35.91
-7.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$15.77Q 120
87.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.11Q 8.48
63.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$19.4KQ 148.0K
95.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$22.5KQ 171.4K
43.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$49.84Q 380
279.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$26.09Q 199
-14.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$49.09Q 374
-24.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$40.22Q 306
44.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$27.79Q 212
-25.66%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$7.24Q 55.2
50.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$249Q 1,893
184.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$5,856Q 44.6K
153.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$47.36Q 361
88.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$54.0Q 411
-32.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$100Q 763
3.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$85.9Q 655
38.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$880Q 6,701
79.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$551Q 4,197
124.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$2,034Q 15.5K
33.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$1,260Q 9,602
61.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$3,046Q 23.2K
147.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$1,205Q 9,184
334.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Antigua Guatemala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$544Q 4,142
334.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
8.5
-60.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Antigua Guatemala: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $880 in Antigua Guatemala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 335% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $53.0 in Antigua Guatemala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $266 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 81% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $1,281 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 335% 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: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $880 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 $706 in Barcelona versus $249 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 $70.0 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 $1,281 in Antigua Guatemala versus $2,320 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 81% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.