😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $656 in Binjai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,018 in Binjai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $1,380 in Binjai.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 257% more expensive than Binjai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Binjai is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$1.57Rp 27.2K
1021.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$12.22Rp 211.8K
462.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$3.47Rp 60.1K
296.25%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$1.67Rp 28.9K
65.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$0.52Rp 8,991
434.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.26Rp 4,492
688.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$2.51Rp 43.6K
83.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$3.56Rp 61.6K
28.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.22Rp 21.2K
4.92%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$1.13Rp 19.6K
86.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$0.88Rp 15.2K
123.86%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$1.53Rp 26.4K
124.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$8.10Rp 140.5K
132.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$3.14Rp 54.4K
200.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$8.11Rp 140.5K
134.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$2.36Rp 40.9K
15.25%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$1.45Rp 25.1K
63.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$1.82Rp 31.5K
14.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$1.56Rp 27.0K
76.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.36Rp 23.6K
44.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.94Rp 33.6K
-7.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$0.92Rp 15.9K
64.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.45Rp 7,726
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$2.51Rp 43.4K
169.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$20.98Rp 363.6K
-64.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$2.01Rp 34.9K
-28.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$3.08Rp 53.3K
-21.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$0.32Rp 5,576
846.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$9.64Rp 167.1K
194.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$0.57Rp 9,952
677.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$0.34Rp 5,942
502.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$2.95Rp 51.2K
894.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$0.84Rp 14.5K
125.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$24.9KRp 432.0M
55.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$27.7KRp 480.8M
16.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$70.9Rp 1.2M
165.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$4.37Rp 75.7K
408.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$22.73Rp 394.0K
61.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$22.86Rp 396.3K
153.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$6.12Rp 106.0K
242.97%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$3.04Rp 52.7K
263.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$94.8Rp 1.6M
666.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$7,443Rp 129.0M
104.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$41.01Rp 710.7K
115.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$30.78Rp 533.4K
20.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$66.6Rp 1.2M
53.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$73.3Rp 1.3M
62.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$255Rp 4.4M
498.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$158Rp 2.7M
671.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$575Rp 10.0M
386.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$329Rp 5.7M
515.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$1,258Rp 21.8M
464.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$858Rp 14.9M
464.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Binjai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
-
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Binjai: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $255 in Binjai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $12.00 in Binjai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $208 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 257% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $656 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 $3,512 in Barcelona and $985 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: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $255 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 $726 in Barcelona versus $94.8 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 $656 in Binjai versus $2,341 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 257% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.