😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $653 in Binjai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $1,019 in Binjai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $1,385 in Binjai.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 262% more expensive than in Binjai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Binjai is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$1.58Rp 28.5K
985.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$12.51Rp 225.9K
444.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$3.47Rp 62.6K
293.08%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$1.65Rp 29.8K
68.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$0.55Rp 10.0K
412.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.28Rp 5,074
600.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$2.52Rp 45.5K
75.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$3.45Rp 62.4K
33.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$1.17Rp 21.1K
8.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$1.12Rp 20.3K
90.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$0.87Rp 15.7K
128.74%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$1.60Rp 29.0K
110.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$8.16Rp 147.3K
132.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$3.25Rp 58.7K
193.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$8.07Rp 145.7K
132.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$2.42Rp 43.6K
9.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$1.50Rp 27.0K
56.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.87Rp 33.7K
11.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$1.49Rp 26.9K
83.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$1.38Rp 24.9K
42.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.89Rp 34.2K
-4.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$0.89Rp 16.1K
69.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.45Rp 8,081
97.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$2.47Rp 44.6K
174.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$21.96Rp 396.5K
-63.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$2.02Rp 36.5K
-32.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$3.08Rp 55.6K
-22.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$0.29Rp 5,319
903.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$10.06Rp 181.6K
184.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$0.57Rp 10.3K
703.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$0.34Rp 6,202
500.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$2.86Rp 51.6K
904.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$0.82Rp 14.8K
121.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$25.0KRp 451.5M
57.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$27.6KRp 498.8M
17.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$69.5Rp 1.3M
168.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$4.37Rp 78.9K
410.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$22.87Rp 412.8K
59.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$23.23Rp 419.3K
147.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
$5.99Rp 108.1K
246.24%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$3.08Rp 55.6K
249.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$94.9Rp 1.7M
663.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$7,692Rp 138.9M
96.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$41.13Rp 742.5K
113.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$30.39Rp 548.7K
21.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$66.1Rp 1.2M
56.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$73.7Rp 1.3M
60.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$253Rp 4.6M
501.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$159Rp 2.9M
672.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$581Rp 10.5M
369.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$330Rp 6.0M
500.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$1,020Rp 18.4M
631.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$715Rp 12.9M
633.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Binjai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $253 in Binjai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $13.00 in Binjai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $211 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 262% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $653 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 $3,539 in Barcelona and $979 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: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $253 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 $725 in Barcelona versus $94.9 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 51% 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 $653 in Binjai versus $2,359 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 262% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.