😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $630 in Binjai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $999 in Binjai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,368 in Binjai.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 293% more expensive than in Binjai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Binjai is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$1.87Rp 33.1K
902.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$13.39Rp 237.1K
418.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$3.68Rp 65.1K
274.18%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$1.50Rp 26.6K
106.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$0.42Rp 7,358
573.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.21Rp 3,645
795.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$2.50Rp 44.3K
59.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$3.75Rp 66.3K
20.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.15Rp 20.3K
10.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$1.25Rp 22.2K
72.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$0.72Rp 12.8K
144.44%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$1.29Rp 22.9K
297.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$6.58Rp 116.5K
171.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$2.74Rp 48.6K
252.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$8.08Rp 143.1K
149.38%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$2.15Rp 38.0K
51.16%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$1.40Rp 24.8K
59.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$1.47Rp 26.1K
76.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$1.31Rp 23.2K
110.69%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$1.22Rp 21.6K
81.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$1.75Rp 31.0K
21.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$0.85Rp 15.1K
82.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.37Rp 6,537
156.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$2.83Rp 50.1K
159.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$21.70Rp 384.2K
-62.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$1.87Rp 33.1K
-17.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$2.64Rp 46.7K
5.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$0.25Rp 4,483
1144.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$0.56Rp 9,978
483.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$0.30Rp 5,244
393.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$2.66Rp 47.1K
1188.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$0.78Rp 13.8K
121.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$26.2KRp 464.1M
38.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$27.8KRp 491.5M
10.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$69.3Rp 1.2M
169.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$4.25Rp 75.3K
256.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$19.66Rp 348.1K
91.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$19.67Rp 348.2K
184.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
$7.88Rp 139.6K
116.75%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$3.16Rp 55.9K
261.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$92.1Rp 1.6M
982.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$7,718Rp 136.7M
114.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$39.81Rp 704.9K
132.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$25.09Rp 444.2K
64.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$70.1Rp 1.2M
58.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$64.3Rp 1.1M
94.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$248Rp 4.4M
589.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$141Rp 2.5M
810.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$645Rp 11.4M
298.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$381Rp 6.7M
409.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
$1,248Rp 22.1M
512.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
$579Rp 10.2M
793.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
9.46
-66.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Binjai: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $248 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 $336 vs $194 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 in Binjai?
Barcelona and Binjai differ by about 293% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $630 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 $3,714 in Barcelona and $945 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 in Binjai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $248 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 $997 in Barcelona versus $92.1 in Binjai. 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 Binjai – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $630 in Binjai versus $2,476 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 293% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.