Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Athens, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Athens, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,341 per month in Barcelona vs $2,584 in Athens, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,462 per month in Barcelona vs $3,624 in Athens, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,582 per month in Barcelona vs $4,663 in Athens, TN, rent included.

Barcelona is about 9% cheaper than Athens, TN, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Barcelona and Athens, TN sit above the global median – Barcelona by 75%, Athens, TN by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.61 €15.08

$21.89 $21.89

-19.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.7 €58.8

$35.64 $35.64

92.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.75 €11.77

$8.85 $8.85

55.37%

Cappuccino

$2.76 €2.36

$3.02 $3.02

-8.61%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 €2.38

$1.96 $1.96

41.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 €1.75

$2.09 $2.09

-1.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.61 €3.94

$6.49 $6.49

-28.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 €3.93

$8.17 $8.17

-43.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 €1.10

$0.95 $0.95

34.74%

White Bread (500g)

$2.11 €1.81

$2.31 $2.31

-8.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 €1.69

$4.64 $4.64

-57.54%

Eggs

$3.44 €2.95

$4.40 $4.40

-21.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.83 €16.12

$13.62 $13.62

38.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.45 €8.09

$6.41 $6.41

47.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.01 €16.27

$10.87 $10.87

74.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 €2.33

$4.43 $4.43

-38.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 €2.03

$1.35 $1.35

75.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 €1.78

$4.64 $4.64

-55.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.76 €2.36

$3.95 $3.95

-30.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 €1.69

$3.78 $3.78

-47.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 €1.53

$3.34 $3.34

-46.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 €1.29

$2.29 $2.29

-34.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 €0.77

$1.82 $1.82

-50.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.76 €5.79

$7.21 $7.21

-6.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.55 €6.46

$15.81 $15.81

-52.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 €1.23

$1.77 $1.77

-18.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 €2.06

$1.59 $1.59

51.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.03 €2.59

$1.98 $1.98

53.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.39 €24.30

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.43 €3.79

$2.96 $2.96

49.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 €1.76

$1.45 $1.45

41.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.33 €25.11

$40.61 $40.61

-27.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.89 €1.62

$0.80 $0.80

136.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$38.7K €33.2K

$32.1K $32.1K

20.61%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.4K €27.7K

$26.6K $26.6K

21.48%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$189 €161

$243 $243

-22.27%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.21 €19.01

$54.5 $54.5

-59.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.82 €31.52

$58.0 $58.0

-36.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 €49.64

$42.58 $42.58

36.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.99 €17.97

Cinema Ticket

$11.05 €9.46

$8.18 $8.18

35.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$726 €622

$1,347 $1,347

-46.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K €13.0K

$30.3K $30.3K

-49.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.3 €75.6

$70.9 $70.9

24.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.98 €31.66

$38.81 $38.81

-4.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €87.8

$102 $102

0.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €102

$128 $128

-6.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,526 €1,307

$1,600 $1,600

-4.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 €1,043

$1,367 $1,367

-10.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,794 €2,392

$2,637 $2,637

5.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,027 €1,735

$2,245 $2,245

-9.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,094 €6,073

$2,040 $2,040

247.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,849 €4,151

$2,052 $2,052

136.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,404 €2,058

$8,398 $8,398

-71.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.39

6.56

-48.32%

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

Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026

Last update for Athens, TN: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,526 in Barcelona versus $1,600 in Athens, TN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 249% higher in Athens, TN, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Barcelona versus $36.00 in Athens, TN. Groceries tell a different story – $320 in Barcelona vs $336 in Athens, TN – so Barcelona wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Athens, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Athens, TN costs about 10% more than Barcelona, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,512 per month in Barcelona and $3,876 in Athens, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Barcelona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Barcelona and $36.00 in Athens, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Athens, TN, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Barcelona, where all-in costs run around $2,341, than in Athens, TN at $2,584. In Barcelona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Athens, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Barcelona costs $2,341 versus $2,584 in Athens, TN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Barcelona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Athens, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.