😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,109 in Buzias.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,706 in Buzias.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $2,304 in Buzias.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 113% more expensive than Buzias, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Buzias is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Buzias
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$11.65RON 52.7
50.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$56.5RON 256
21.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$8.11RON 36.67
73.37%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$3.34RON 15.11
-16.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$2.41RON 10.87
16.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$2.21RON 9.99
-6.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$3.24RON 14.66
37.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$4.01RON 18.14
14.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Buzias
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.73RON 7.83
-28.32%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$1.34RON 6.05
51.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.82RON 8.23
5.49%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$3.21RON 14.52
3.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$9.74RON 44.05
89.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$7.05RON 31.86
34.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$11.93RON 53.9
60.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$1.19RON 5.37
121.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.73RON 7.83
41.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$1.62RON 7.34
30.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$2.34RON 10.57
21.79%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.94RON 4.23
117.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$0.96RON 4.36
92.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$1.03RON 4.68
42.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.90RON 4.05
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$6.24RON 28.22
14.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$8.43RON 38.12
-6.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.15RON 5.21
20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$1.98RON 8.93
16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Buzias
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$0.66RON 2.97
351.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
$20.15RON 91.1
45.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$0.99RON 4.49
364.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$0.87RON 3.93
137.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$9.26RON 41.87
215.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.72RON 7.76
6.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$28.2KRON 127.4K
38.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$26.3KRON 118.7K
24.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Buzias
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$157RON 708
19.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$8.82RON 39.88
159.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$9.86RON 44.57
272.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Buzias
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$41.49RON 188
38.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
$18.85RON 85.2
9.81%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$7.87RON 35.59
42.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Buzias
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$476RON 2,151
51.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$10.6KRON 48.0K
41.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Buzias
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$70.0RON 317
23.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$40.34RON 182
-8.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$85.9RON 388
18.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$98.0RON 443
18.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Buzias
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$387RON 1,747
296.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$295RON 1,332
314.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$587RON 2,656
358.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$432RON 1,954
365.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
$1,909RON 8,628
278.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
$1,539RON 6,955
237.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Buzias
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.85
-42.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Buzias: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $387 in Buzias. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $57.0 in Buzias for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $232 per month, with Buzias 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 Buzias: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Buzias?
Barcelona and Buzias differ by about 113% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,109 including rent). Buzias is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Buzias?
You'd need roughly $3,550 in Barcelona and $1,663 in Buzias to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Buzias?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $387 in Buzias. 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 Buzias?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $476 in Buzias. 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 37% 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 $1,109 in Buzias versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Buzias but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Buzias the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Buzias?
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 Buzias safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Buzias 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 Buzias?
Expats usually find Buzias gentler on the wallet – expenses run 113% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.