😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $895 in Boroko.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $1,299 in Boroko.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,703 in Boroko.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 177% more expensive than in Boroko, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Boroko is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$7.22PGK 31.39
159.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$35.76PGK 155
94.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$5.51PGK 23.93
149.91%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.55PGK 11.07
21.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$0.73PGK 3.16
287.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.65PGK 2.82
189.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$2.75PGK 11.94
44.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$3.55PGK 15.41
27.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.62PGK 7.02
-21.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$1.16PGK 5.06
86.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.25PGK 5.42
40.80%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$3.61PGK 15.68
42.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$4.99PGK 21.67
258.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$5.08PGK 22.07
89.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$6.66PGK 28.95
202.55%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$4.15PGK 18.03
-21.69%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$3.02PGK 13.13
-26.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$2.84PGK 12.33
-8.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$2.64PGK 11.46
4.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$2.87PGK 12.47
-23.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$0.93PGK 4.04
127.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$1.11PGK 4.82
39.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.43PGK 1.89
120.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$5.52PGK 23.98
32.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$5.02PGK 21.80
60.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$1.15PGK 4.99
33.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$1.60PGK 6.94
74.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$0.47PGK 2.03
561.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
$30.66PGK 133
-15.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$4.42PGK 19.21
-26.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$1.37PGK 5.94
8.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$11.14PGK 48.39
207.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$0.76PGK 3.29
127.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$21.2KPGK 91.9K
71.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$17.5KPGK 76.0K
74.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$63.1PGK 274
196.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$23.42PGK 102
-35.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$92.3PGK 401
-59.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$42.37PGK 184
32.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
$14.39PGK 62.5
18.69%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$6.81PGK 29.58
67.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$341PGK 1,483
192.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$2,221PGK 9,650
644.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$33.27PGK 145
178.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$13.67PGK 59.4
201.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$45.18PGK 196
146.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$27.12PGK 118
361.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$3,340PGK 14.5K
-48.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$224PGK 971
475.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$3,407PGK 14.8K
-24.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$225PGK 977
763.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
$355PGK 1,544
561.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
11
-71.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Boroko: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $3,340 in Boroko. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 561% 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 $36.00 in Boroko for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $210 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 in Boroko?
Barcelona and Boroko differ by about 177% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $895 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?
Average pay runs 561% higher in Barcelona, 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 in Boroko?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $3,340 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 $997 in Barcelona versus $341 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 60% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Boroko is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
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 177% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.