😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,161 in Berat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,734 in Berat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $2,307 in Berat.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 101% more expensive than Berat, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Berat is 14% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$11.92ALL 974
43.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$33.35ALL 2,724
107.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$8.25ALL 674
67.03%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$1.76ALL 143
56.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$1.72ALL 141
62.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.97ALL 79.6
105.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$2.66ALL 217
63.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$3.59ALL 294
32.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.91ALL 156
-32.46%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.13ALL 92.0
81.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$2.15ALL 176
-7.44%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$3.02ALL 247
12.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$10.70ALL 874
75.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$7.72ALL 630
21.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$15.89ALL 1,298
20.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$1.76ALL 144
53.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$2.40ALL 196
-2.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.57ALL 129
35.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$1.38ALL 113
106.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$0.93ALL 75.7
111.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.15ALL 94.0
56.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$0.80ALL 65.7
81.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.74ALL 60.5
16.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$4.25ALL 348
59.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$11.11ALL 908
-28.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.17ALL 95.3
18.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$1.38ALL 112
71.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.34ALL 27.67
758.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$18.86ALL 1,541
52.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$3.46ALL 283
28.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$3.15ALL 257
-34.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$17.40ALL 1,422
69.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$2.11ALL 172
-13.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$39.3KALL 3.2M
-1.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$35.7KALL 2.9M
-7.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$83.2ALL 6,795
127.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$17.57ALL 1,436
29.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$18.78ALL 1,534
100.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$54.5ALL 4,455
5.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$25.54ALL 2,086
-18.79%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$9.62ALL 786
12.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$156ALL 12.8K
365.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$1,782ALL 145.6K
728.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$67.5ALL 5,516
31.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$49.85ALL 4,072
-26.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$106ALL 8,656
-3.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$127ALL 10.4K
-8.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$458ALL 37.5K
242.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$338ALL 27.6K
260.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$600ALL 49.0K
365.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$428ALL 35.0K
361.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$1,948ALL 159.2K
298.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$1,325ALL 108.3K
290.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$483ALL 39.5K
385.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.52
-38.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Berat: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $458 in Berat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 385% 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 $33.00 in Berat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $254 per month, with Berat 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 Berat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Berat?
Barcelona and Berat differ by about 101% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,161 including rent). Berat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Berat?
Barcelona pays 385% 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 Berat?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $458 in Berat. 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 Berat?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $156 in Berat. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,161 in Berat versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Berat but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Berat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Berat?
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 Berat safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Berat 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 Berat?
Expats usually find Berat 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.