Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Billings, MT Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Billings, MT

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $2,223 in Billings, MT.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $3,395 in Billings, MT.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $4,567 in Billings, MT.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 5% more expensive than Billings, MT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 75% above, Billings, MT 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Billings, MT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61 €15.08
$19.71 $19.71
-10.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7 €58.8
$59.0 $59.0
16.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.75 €11.77
$14.42 $14.42
-4.65%
Cappuccino
$2.76 €2.36
$5.77 $5.77
-52.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 €2.38
$2.17 $2.17
28.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 €1.75
$2.75 $2.75
-25.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.61 €3.94
$4.57 $4.57
0.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 €3.93
$4.87 $4.87
-5.75%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Billings, MT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 €1.10
$1.26 $1.26
1.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 €1.81
$4.45 $4.45
-52.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 €1.69
$4.12 $4.12
-52.18%
Eggs
$3.44 €2.95
$3.17 $3.17
8.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.83 €16.12
$14.17 $14.17
32.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.45 €8.09
$12.45 $12.45
-24.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.01 €16.27
$16.20 $16.20
17.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 €2.33
$4.52 $4.52
-39.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.37 €2.03
$1.39 $1.39
70.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 €1.78
$3.84 $3.84
-45.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 €2.36
$6.28 $6.28
-56.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 €1.69
$1.83 $1.83
7.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 €1.53
$3.10 $3.10
-42.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 €1.29
$2.38 $2.38
-36.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 €0.77
$1.28 $1.28
-29.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76 €5.79
$9.19 $9.19
-26.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.55 €6.46
$12.93 $12.93
-41.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 €1.23
$2.18 $2.18
-33.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 €2.06
$3.86 $3.86
-37.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Billings, MT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.03 €2.59
$2.05 $2.05
47.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.39 €24.30
$28.14 $28.14
0.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.43 €3.79
$2.45 $2.45
80.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 €1.76
$1.65 $1.65
24.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.33 €25.11
$28.80 $28.80
1.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 €1.62
$0.84 $0.84
125.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K €33.2K
$22.2K $22.2K
74.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K €27.7K
$25.3K $25.3K
27.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Billings, MT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €161
$157 $157
20.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21 €19.01
$48.28 $48.28
-54.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82 €31.52
$67.5 $67.5
-45.42%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Billings, MT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 €49.64
$48.45 $48.45
19.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99 €17.97
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.05 €9.46
$14.22 $14.22
-22.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Billings, MT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$726 €622
$1,001 $1,001
-27.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K €13.0K
$31.7K $31.7K
-51.90%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Billings, MT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3 €75.6
$55.5 $55.5
59.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98 €31.66
$66.3 $66.3
-44.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €87.8
$100.0 $100.0
2.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €102
$123 $123
-3.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Billings, MT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,526 €1,307
$1,173 $1,173
30.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 €1,043
$936 $936
30.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,794 €2,392
$2,095 $2,095
33.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,027 €1,735
$1,859 $1,859
9.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,094 €6,073
$2,361 $2,361
200.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,849 €4,151
$2,127 $2,127
128.04%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Billings, MT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,404 €2,058
$3,925 $3,925
-38.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
6.59
-48.56%

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

Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026

Last update for Billings, MT: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $1,173 in Billings, MT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Billings, MT pays 63% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $59.0 in Billings, MT. Groceries flip the comparison at $320 vs $398, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.

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 Billings, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Billings, MT?
Barcelona and Billings, MT differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $2,223 including rent). Billings, MT is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Billings, MT earns 63% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Billings, MT?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $1,173 in Billings, MT. 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 Billings, MT?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $1,001 in Billings, MT. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 25% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,223 in Billings, MT versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Billings, MT but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Billings, MT the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Billings, MT?
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 Billings, MT safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Billings, MT 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 Billings, MT?
Expats usually find Billings, MT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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