😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,113 in Boroko.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,551 in Boroko.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $1,990 in Boroko.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 110% more expensive than Boroko, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Boroko is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$7.87PGK 34.16
123.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$38.12PGK 165
80.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$5.88PGK 25.54
133.84%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$2.23PGK 9.67
23.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$0.76PGK 3.28
265.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.85PGK 3.71
141.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$2.35PGK 10.21
96.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$3.99PGK 17.31
15.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.67PGK 7.25
-23.35%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$1.29PGK 5.60
63.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.28PGK 5.54
53.91%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$3.78PGK 16.42
-8.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$4.48PGK 19.44
320.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$6.26PGK 27.19
50.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$6.94PGK 30.12
173.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$4.03PGK 17.50
-32.51%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$2.96PGK 12.87
-19.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$3.01PGK 13.06
-30.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$2.95PGK 12.80
-6.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$3.09PGK 13.40
-36.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$0.92PGK 3.98
94.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$1.18PGK 5.10
27.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.49PGK 2.13
83.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$6.07PGK 26.34
11.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$5.13PGK 22.28
47.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.22PGK 5.28
18.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$1.65PGK 7.18
46.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$0.47PGK 2.03
544.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$31.71PGK 138
-10.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$4.72PGK 20.49
-6.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$1.46PGK 6.32
40.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$12.11PGK 52.6
142.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$0.81PGK 3.50
133.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$22.9KPGK 99.6K
68.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$25.1KPGK 109.0K
28.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$66.9PGK 290
182.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$48.14PGK 209
-53.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$244PGK 1,061
-84.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$46.12PGK 200
25.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$15.32PGK 66.5
37.01%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$7.41PGK 32.15
49.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$356PGK 1,543
104.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$2,352PGK 10.2K
547.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$31.23PGK 136
182.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$14.33PGK 62.2
158.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$48.29PGK 210
112.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$28.30PGK 123
321.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$3,535PGK 15.3K
-56.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$243PGK 1,054
401.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$3,574PGK 15.5K
-21.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$241PGK 1,045
742.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$363PGK 1,575
562.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
11
-69.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Boroko: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $3,535 in Boroko. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 562% 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 $38.00 in Boroko for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $222 per month, with Boroko 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 Boroko: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Boroko?
Barcelona and Boroko differ by about 110% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,113 including rent). Boroko is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Boroko?
Barcelona pays 562% 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 Boroko?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $3,535 in Boroko. 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 Boroko?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $356 in Boroko. 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 44% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,113 in Boroko versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Boroko but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Boroko the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Boroko?
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 Boroko safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Boroko 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 Boroko?
Expats usually find Boroko gentler on the wallet – expenses run 110% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.