😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $646 in Battambang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,001 in Battambang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $1,356 in Battambang.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 266% more expensive than Battambang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Battambang is 52% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Battambang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$2.45៛9,848
617.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$17.89៛71.9K
282.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$5.63៛22.6K
149.73%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$1.52៛6,126
82.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$0.63៛2,542
344.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.52៛2,097
296.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$0.78៛3,131
471.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$1.48៛5,944
211.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Battambang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$2.07៛8,327
-40.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$1.51៛6,087
34.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.02៛4,090
88.24%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$1.74៛7,014
90.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$12.75៛51.3K
44.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$4.12៛16.6K
130.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$10.15៛40.8K
88.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$2.55៛10.2K
3.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.61៛6,478
52.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$2.37៛9,525
-10.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$1.46៛5,855
95.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.52៛6,117
34.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$1.19៛4,795
55.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$1.43៛5,755
2.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.51៛2,054
64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$1.97៛7,935
262.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$12.13៛48.8K
-35.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$0.81៛3,253
70.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$0.99៛3,963
133.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Battambang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$0.97៛3,913
374.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$1.02៛4,115
102.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$4.04៛16.2K
622.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.12៛4,514
64.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$49.1K៛197.6M
-20.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$36.4K៛146.4M
-10.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Battambang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$53.1៛213.4K
253.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$1.53៛6,163
1398.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$23.23៛93.4K
58.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Battambang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$22.41៛90.1K
156.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$4.37៛17.6K
156.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Battambang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$90.0៛361.8K
701.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$3,977៛16.0M
278.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Battambang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$19.77៛79.5K
336.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$22.24៛89.4K
66.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$44.13៛177.4K
131.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$42.11៛169.3K
175.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Battambang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$252៛1.0M
507.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$174៛700.0K
601.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$472៛1.9M
471.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$354៛1.4M
468.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Battambang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
$203៛815.3K
1063.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
8
-57.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Battambang: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $252 in Battambang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 1064% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $18.00 in Battambang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $224 per month, with Battambang 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 Battambang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Battambang?
Barcelona and Battambang differ by about 266% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $646 including rent). Battambang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Battambang?
Barcelona pays 1064% more on average, 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 Battambang?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $252 in Battambang. 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 Battambang?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $90.0 in Battambang. 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 Battambang – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $646 in Battambang versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Battambang but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Battambang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Battambang?
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 Battambang safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Battambang 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 Battambang?
Expats usually find Battambang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 266% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.