πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,144 in Bragadiru.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,798 in Bragadiru.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,453 in Bragadiru.
πLiving in Barcelona is roughly 105% more expensive than Bragadiru, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Bragadiru is 15% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Barcelona
Bragadiru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61β¬15.08
$13.75RONΒ 59.9
28.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7β¬58.8
$68.0RONΒ 297
0.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75β¬11.77
$8.14RONΒ 35.51
68.92%
Cappuccino
$2.76β¬2.36
$3.29RONΒ 14.35
-16.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78β¬2.38
$1.92RONΒ 8.39
44.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05β¬1.75
$1.35RONΒ 5.89
51.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61β¬3.94
$2.24RONΒ 9.77
105.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59β¬3.93
$3.17RONΒ 13.80
44.79%
π Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Bragadiru
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28β¬1.10
$1.76RONΒ 7.67
-27.27%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11β¬1.81
$1.25RONΒ 5.44
68.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97β¬1.69
$1.93RONΒ 8.41
2.07%
Eggs
$3.44β¬2.95
$3.41RONΒ 14.87
0.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83β¬16.12
$9.35RONΒ 40.77
101.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45β¬8.09
$7.05RONΒ 30.75
34.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01β¬16.27
$11.41RONΒ 49.74
66.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72β¬2.33
$1.42RONΒ 6.18
91.55%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37β¬2.03
$1.73RONΒ 7.53
36.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08β¬1.78
$1.76RONΒ 7.65
18.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76β¬2.36
$2.53RONΒ 11.02
9.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97β¬1.69
$1.05RONΒ 4.57
87.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79β¬1.53
$1.11RONΒ 4.84
61.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51β¬1.29
$1.04RONΒ 4.53
45.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90β¬0.77
$0.89RONΒ 3.87
1.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76β¬5.79
$6.41RONΒ 27.93
5.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55β¬6.46
$7.29RONΒ 31.77
3.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44β¬1.23
$1.13RONΒ 4.93
27.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41β¬2.06
$1.99RONΒ 8.67
21.11%
π Getting Around
Barcelona
Bragadiru
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03β¬2.59
$0.72RONΒ 3.13
320.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39β¬24.30
$19.60RONΒ 85.5
44.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43β¬3.79
$0.72RONΒ 3.12
515.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05β¬1.76
$0.61RONΒ 2.67
236.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33β¬25.11
$6.90RONΒ 30.07
325.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89β¬1.62
$1.68RONΒ 7.33
12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7Kβ¬33.2K
$29.3KRONΒ 127.6K
32.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4Kβ¬27.7K
$29.9KRONΒ 130.5K
8.10%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Bragadiru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189β¬161
$182RONΒ 795
3.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21β¬19.01
$7.93RONΒ 34.56
180.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82β¬31.52
$9.03RONΒ 39.37
307.75%
π Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Bragadiru
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0β¬49.64
$41.65RONΒ 182
39.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99β¬17.97
$18.83RONΒ 82.1
11.47%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05β¬9.46
$8.17RONΒ 35.63
35.25%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Bragadiru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726β¬622
$558RONΒ 2,433
30.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2Kβ¬13.0K
$8,220RONΒ 35.8K
85.22%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Bragadiru
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3β¬75.6
$79.4RONΒ 346
11.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98β¬31.66
$45.24RONΒ 197
-18.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103β¬87.8
$89.0RONΒ 388
15.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119β¬102
$80.7RONΒ 352
47.82%
π Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Bragadiru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526β¬1,307
$388RONΒ 1,693
293.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218β¬1,043
$290RONΒ 1,265
319.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794β¬2,392
$585RONΒ 2,550
377.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027β¬1,735
$431RONΒ 1,879
370.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094β¬6,073
$1,792RONΒ 7,812
295.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849β¬4,151
$1,374RONΒ 5,992
252.87%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Bragadiru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404β¬2,058
$1,189RONΒ 5,184
102.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.78
-50.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Bragadiru: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $388 in Bragadiru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Barcelona pays 102% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $68.0 in Bragadiru for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $230 per month, with Bragadiru 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 Bragadiru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Bragadiru?
Barcelona and Bragadiru differ by about 105% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,144 including rent). Bragadiru is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Bragadiru?
Barcelona pays 102% 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 Bragadiru?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $388 in Bragadiru. 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 Bragadiru?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $558 in Bragadiru. 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 39% 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 $1,144 in Bragadiru versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bragadiru but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Bragadiru the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Bragadiru?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Bragadiru safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Bragadiru 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 Bragadiru?
Expats usually find Bragadiru gentler on the wallet β expenses run 105% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.