😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,119 in Boroko.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,547 in Boroko.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $1,975 in Boroko.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 109% more expensive than Boroko, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Boroko is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$7.77PGK 33.38
119.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$39.14PGK 168
76.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$6.03PGK 25.89
128.52%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$2.34PGK 10.06
17.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.82PGK 3.50
240.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.78PGK 3.35
155.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$2.35PGK 10.11
85.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$3.99PGK 17.16
18.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.72PGK 7.40
-25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.26PGK 5.39
62.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.29PGK 5.53
54.26%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$3.73PGK 16.02
-9.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$4.48PGK 19.23
319.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$6.41PGK 27.56
46.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$7.05PGK 30.29
171.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$3.95PGK 16.99
-31.65%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$2.86PGK 12.30
-18.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$2.90PGK 12.46
-26.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$2.90PGK 12.44
-1.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$3.16PGK 13.57
-37.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$0.94PGK 4.02
91.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$1.17PGK 5.03
23.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.49PGK 2.11
75.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$5.87PGK 25.20
15.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$5.23PGK 22.49
51.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.18PGK 5.07
17.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$1.67PGK 7.17
41.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.50PGK 2.14
484.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$32.62PGK 140
-12.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$4.73PGK 20.31
-5.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$1.44PGK 6.20
42.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$11.95PGK 51.3
147.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$0.83PGK 3.55
119.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$23.0KPGK 98.6K
69.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$24.6KPGK 105.7K
34.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$67.0PGK 288
182.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$48.35PGK 208
-52.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$236PGK 1,012
-84.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$45.77PGK 197
26.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$15.46PGK 66.4
34.15%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$7.24PGK 31.12
49.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$355PGK 1,526
105.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$2,442PGK 10.5K
504.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$31.00PGK 133
185.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$14.57PGK 62.6
152.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$48.48PGK 208
110.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$28.45PGK 122
308.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$3,542PGK 15.2K
-55.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$237PGK 1,016
414.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$3,536PGK 15.2K
-20.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$237PGK 1,020
732.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Boroko
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$363PGK 1,558
546.13%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Boroko: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $3,542 in Boroko. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 546% 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 $39.00 in Boroko for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $221 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 109% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,119 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 546% 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: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $3,542 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 $728 in Barcelona versus $355 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 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 109% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.