😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $674 in Binjai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,018 in Binjai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $1,363 in Binjai.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 247% more expensive than Binjai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Binjai is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$1.53Rp 27.3K
1016.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$12.52Rp 224.3K
453.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$3.39Rp 60.8K
306.49%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$1.67Rp 30.0K
65.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.55Rp 9,916
407.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.28Rp 5,036
610.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$2.51Rp 45.0K
73.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$3.51Rp 62.9K
35.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.23Rp 22.1K
4.88%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.13Rp 20.3K
81.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$0.89Rp 16.0K
123.60%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$1.51Rp 27.1K
124.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$8.34Rp 149.5K
125.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$3.25Rp 58.3K
188.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$7.93Rp 142.1K
141.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$2.37Rp 42.4K
13.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.46Rp 26.1K
60.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.89Rp 33.9K
12.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$1.51Rp 27.0K
88.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$1.32Rp 23.7K
49.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.88Rp 33.7K
-4.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$0.91Rp 16.2K
59.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.41Rp 7,380
109.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$2.52Rp 45.2K
169.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$20.24Rp 362.6K
-60.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.08Rp 37.3K
-33.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$3.06Rp 54.8K
-22.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.29Rp 5,278
906.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$9.98Rp 178.8K
187.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$0.56Rp 10.1K
696.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$0.35Rp 6,252
485.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$2.97Rp 53.1K
894.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$0.83Rp 14.9K
119.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$24.4KRp 437.2M
59.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$27.8KRp 497.3M
19.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$68.6Rp 1.2M
175.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$4.32Rp 77.4K
427.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$22.56Rp 404.3K
66.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$22.96Rp 411.4K
151.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$6.13Rp 109.9K
238.34%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$3.13Rp 56.1K
245.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$95.2Rp 1.7M
664.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$7,473Rp 133.9M
97.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$40.89Rp 732.6K
116.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$30.93Rp 554.2K
19.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$66.8Rp 1.2M
52.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$72.7Rp 1.3M
59.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$258Rp 4.6M
509.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$160Rp 2.9M
661.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$577Rp 10.3M
384.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$339Rp 6.1M
482.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$1,189Rp 21.3M
552.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$611Rp 10.9M
747.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
9.15
-62.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Binjai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $258 in Binjai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $13.00 in Binjai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $207 per month, with Binjai 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 Binjai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Binjai?
Barcelona and Binjai differ by about 247% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $674 including rent). Binjai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Binjai?
You'd need roughly $3,505 in Barcelona and $1,011 in Binjai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Binjai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $258 in Binjai. 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 Binjai?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $95.2 in Binjai. 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 54% 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 $674 in Binjai versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Binjai but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Binjai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Binjai?
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 Binjai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Binjai 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 Binjai?
Expats usually find Binjai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 247% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.