😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $369 in Byumba.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $612 in Byumba.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $855 in Byumba.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 528% more expensive than in Byumba, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Byumba is 72% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Byumba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$4.19RWF 6,125
321.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$27.68RWF 40.5K
151.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$6.57RWF 9,612
115.53%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$2.25RWF 3,290
24.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$0.81RWF 1,179
246.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.51RWF 751
303.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$1.02RWF 1,486
350.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$2.05RWF 3,004
128.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Byumba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$0.70RWF 1,025
75.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$1.08RWF 1,573
87.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.25RWF 1,823
58.40%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$1.71RWF 2,505
104.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$4.00RWF 5,857
358.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$4.43RWF 6,471
121.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$3.64RWF 5,317
425.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$2.48RWF 3,623
10.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$0.98RWF 1,438
142.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.42RWF 2,081
46.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$1.13RWF 1,655
143.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$0.51RWF 747
284.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$0.81RWF 1,186
120.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$0.47RWF 687
214.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.80RWF 1,164
13.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$1.76RWF 2,581
305.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$10.02RWF 14.7K
-21.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$0.89RWF 1,300
55.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$1.71RWF 2,501
39.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Byumba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$3.08RWF 4,502
41.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$1.41RWF 2,056
51.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$3.91RWF 5,717
657.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.14RWF 1,663
59.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$26.6KRWF 38.9M
42.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$30.3KRWF 44.3M
6.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Byumba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$47.35RWF 69.2K
299.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$9.00RWF 13.2K
147.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$17.77RWF 26.0K
109.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Byumba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$3.55RWF 5,185
206.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Byumba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$153RWF 223.5K
362.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$5,179RWF 7.6M
187.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Byumba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$16.85RWF 24.6K
430.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$19.38RWF 28.3K
88.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$24.18RWF 35.4K
330.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$31.27RWF 45.7K
281.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Byumba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$344RWF 503.7K
358.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Byumba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
16.2
-79.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Byumba: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $344 in Byumba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $28.00 in Byumba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $147 per month, with Byumba 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 Byumba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Byumba?
Barcelona and Byumba differ by about 528% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $369 including rent). Byumba 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 Byumba?
You'd need roughly $3,480 in Barcelona and $554 in Byumba 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 in Byumba?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $344 in Byumba. 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 Byumba?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $153 in Byumba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Byumba – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $70.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $369 in Byumba versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Byumba but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Byumba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Byumba?
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 Byumba safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Byumba 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 Byumba?
Expats usually find Byumba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 528% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.