Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Bissau Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Bissau

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $888 in Bissau.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,408 in Bissau.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $1,929 in Bissau.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 164% more expensive than Bissau, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Bissau is 34% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Bissau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61 €15.04
$5.17 F CFA 2,894
240.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7 €58.7
$26.26 F CFA 14.7K
161.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.75 €11.74
$9.45 F CFA 5,295
45.50%
Cappuccino
$2.76 €2.36
$1.73 F CFA 971
59.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 €2.38
$1.05 F CFA 587
164.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 €1.75
$0.92 F CFA 513
122.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.61 €3.93
$0.69 F CFA 384
568.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 €3.92
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Bissau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 €1.09
$1.77 F CFA 994
-27.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 €1.80
$0.94 F CFA 529
124.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 €1.68
$2.10 F CFA 1,177
-6.19%
Eggs
$3.44 €2.94
$5.33 F CFA 2,987
-35.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.83 €16.08
$14.60 F CFA 8,177
28.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.45 €8.07
$14.09 F CFA 7,894
-32.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.01 €16.24
$14.22 F CFA 7,965
33.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 €2.32
$4.48 F CFA 2,512
-39.29%
Banana (1kg)
$2.37 €2.03
$1.03 F CFA 578
130.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 €1.77
$4.38 F CFA 2,453
-52.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 €2.36
$0.16 F CFA 87.1
1625.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 €1.68
$1.38 F CFA 770
42.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 €1.53
$1.39 F CFA 780
28.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 €1.29
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 €0.77
$1.28 F CFA 719
-29.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76 €5.77
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$7.55 €6.44
$6.99 F CFA 3,915
8.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 €1.23
$1.30 F CFA 729
10.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 €2.06
$0.86 F CFA 481
180.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Bissau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.03 €2.59
$0.55 F CFA 307
450.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.39 €24.25
$25.12 F CFA 14.1K
13.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.43 €3.78
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 €1.75
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.33 €25.05
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 €1.61
$1.52 F CFA 849
24.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K €33.1K
$32.2K F CFA 18.1M
20.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K €27.6K
$29.2K F CFA 16.3M
11.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Bissau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €161
$109 F CFA 61.0K
73.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21 €18.96
$34.37 F CFA 19.3K
-35.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82 €31.44
$45.85 F CFA 25.7K
-19.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Bissau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 €49.52
$44.39 F CFA 24.9K
30.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99 €17.93
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.05 €9.44
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Bissau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$726 €620
$761 F CFA 426.1K
-4.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K €13.0K
$2,338 F CFA 1.3M
551.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Bissau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3 €75.4
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98 €31.58
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €87.6
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €102
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Bissau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,526 €1,304
$442 F CFA 247.7K
245.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 €1,040
$228 F CFA 128.0K
433.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,794 €2,386
$742 F CFA 415.9K
276.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,027 €1,731
$474 F CFA 265.5K
327.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,094 €6,058
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,849 €4,141
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Bissau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,404 €2,053
$1,062 F CFA 595.0K
126.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
0
-

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

Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bissau: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $442 in Bissau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 126% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $26.00 in Bissau for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $305 per month, with Bissau 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 Bissau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Bissau?
Barcelona and Bissau differ by about 164% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $888 including rent). Bissau is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Bissau?
Barcelona pays 126% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Bissau?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $442 in Bissau. 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 Bissau?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $761 in Bissau. 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 5% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $888 in Bissau versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bissau but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Bissau the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Bissau?
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 Bissau safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Bissau 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 Bissau?
Expats usually find Bissau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 164% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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