πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,147 in Berat.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,697 in Berat.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,246 in Berat.
πLiving in Barcelona is roughly 104% more expensive than Berat, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Berat is 14% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61β¬15.08
$11.64ALLΒ 950
51.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7β¬58.8
$32.58ALLΒ 2,660
110.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75β¬11.77
$8.37ALLΒ 683
64.28%
Cappuccino
$2.76β¬2.36
$1.75ALLΒ 143
57.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78β¬2.38
$1.81ALLΒ 148
53.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05β¬1.75
$0.89ALLΒ 72.9
130.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61β¬3.94
$2.65ALLΒ 216
73.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59β¬3.93
$3.64ALLΒ 297
26.10%
π Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28β¬1.10
$1.90ALLΒ 155
-32.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11β¬1.81
$1.09ALLΒ 88.8
93.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97β¬1.69
$2.22ALLΒ 181
-11.26%
Eggs
$3.44β¬2.95
$2.97ALLΒ 243
15.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83β¬16.12
$10.79ALLΒ 881
74.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45β¬8.09
$7.87ALLΒ 642
20.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01β¬16.27
$15.80ALLΒ 1,290
20.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72β¬2.33
$1.71ALLΒ 140
59.06%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37β¬2.03
$2.39ALLΒ 195
-0.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08β¬1.78
$1.54ALLΒ 126
35.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76β¬2.36
$1.40ALLΒ 114
97.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97β¬1.69
$0.90ALLΒ 73.3
118.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79β¬1.53
$1.15ALLΒ 94.2
55.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51β¬1.29
$0.79ALLΒ 64.5
91.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90β¬0.77
$0.72ALLΒ 59.2
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76β¬5.79
$4.22ALLΒ 345
60.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55β¬6.46
$10.57ALLΒ 863
-28.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44β¬1.23
$1.21ALLΒ 99.2
19.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41β¬2.06
$1.43ALLΒ 117
68.53%
π Getting Around
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03β¬2.59
$0.34ALLΒ 27.52
791.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39β¬24.30
$18.46ALLΒ 1,508
53.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43β¬3.79
$3.44ALLΒ 281
28.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05β¬1.76
$3.07ALLΒ 250
-33.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33β¬25.11
$17.75ALLΒ 1,449
65.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89β¬1.62
$2.02ALLΒ 165
-6.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7Kβ¬33.2K
$40.1KALLΒ 3.3M
-3.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4Kβ¬27.7K
$36.1KALLΒ 2.9M
-10.29%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189β¬161
$82.7ALLΒ 6,756
127.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21β¬19.01
$17.72ALLΒ 1,447
25.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82β¬31.52
$18.20ALLΒ 1,486
102.31%
π Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0β¬49.64
$54.3ALLΒ 4,432
6.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99β¬17.97
$25.49ALLΒ 2,081
-17.65%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05β¬9.46
$9.19ALLΒ 751
20.24%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726β¬622
$157ALLΒ 12.8K
363.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2Kβ¬13.0K
$1,799ALLΒ 146.9K
746.33%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3β¬75.6
$69.1ALLΒ 5,640
27.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98β¬31.66
$49.96ALLΒ 4,079
-25.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103β¬87.8
$107ALLΒ 8,776
-4.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119β¬102
$129ALLΒ 10.5K
-7.34%
π Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526β¬1,307
$452ALLΒ 36.9K
237.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218β¬1,043
$346ALLΒ 28.2K
252.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794β¬2,392
$610ALLΒ 49.8K
358.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027β¬1,735
$443ALLΒ 36.2K
357.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094β¬6,073
$1,857ALLΒ 151.6K
281.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849β¬4,151
$1,205ALLΒ 98.4K
302.33%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Berat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404β¬2,058
$498ALLΒ 40.6K
383.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.52
-38.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Berat: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $452 in Berat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Barcelona pays 383% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $33.00 in Berat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $253 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 104% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,147 including rent). Berat is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Berat?
Barcelona pays 383% 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: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $452 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 $726 in Barcelona versus $157 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 $1,147 in Berat versus $2,341 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 β 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 β expenses run 104% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.