😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,176 in Artem.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,775 in Artem.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $2,375 in Artem.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 101% more expensive than Artem, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Artem is 12% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Artem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$14.97₽1,093
17.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$38.40₽2,803
78.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$5.91₽432
137.90%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$3.00₽219
-7.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$1.05₽76.3
166.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.68₽49.77
202.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$1.24₽90.3
259.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$3.20₽234
44.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Artem
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.56₽114
-20.51%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$0.73₽53.0
178.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.82₽133
5.49%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$2.73₽199
21.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$11.43₽834
61.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$6.07₽443
56.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$10.60₽774
80.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$2.51₽183
5.18%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$2.27₽166
7.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$2.66₽194
-20.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$3.02₽221
-5.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.87₽63.7
134.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$0.84₽61.2
120.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$1.67₽122
-11.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.18₽86.1
-28.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$3.01₽220
137.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$8.91₽650
-11.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.15₽84.1
20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$3.23₽235
-28.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Artem
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$0.53₽38.87
462.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$1.86₽136
147.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$0.17₽12.37
1117.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$6.64₽485
339.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$0.72₽52.8
155.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$31.9K₽2.3M
22.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$38.1K₽2.8M
-14.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Artem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$176₽12.8K
6.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$5.74₽419
299.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$8.51₽621
331.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Artem
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$36.24₽2,645
58.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$5.74₽419
94.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Artem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$475₽34.7K
51.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$6,897₽503.4K
118.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Artem
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$119₽8,719
-27.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$59.2₽4,319
-37.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$81.7₽5,964
24.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$150₽10.9K
-22.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Artem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$449₽32.8K
241.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$303₽22.1K
302.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$760₽55.5K
254.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$514₽37.5K
291.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
$2,646₽193.1K
172.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
$1,615₽117.8K
221.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Artem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
21
-83.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Artem: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $449 in Artem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $38.00 in Artem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $245 per month, with Artem 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 Artem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Barcelona or Artem?
Artem wins on cost – living expenses run 101% lower than in Barcelona. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Artem the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Barcelona vs Artem?
You'd need roughly $3,550 in Barcelona and $1,764 in Artem to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Barcelona vs Artem?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $449 in Artem. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Barcelona and Artem?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $475 in Artem. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Barcelona vs Artem?
Dining out is cheaper in Artem – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Barcelona or Artem?
At $1,176 in Artem versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Artem but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Artem the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Barcelona or Artem?
Both work as nomad bases, but Artem delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,176 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Artem hard to pass up.
How safe is Barcelona compared to Artem?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Artem 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 Artem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 101% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.