😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,513 in Cherbourg.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $2,560 in Cherbourg.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $3,608 in Cherbourg.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 56% more expensive than Cherbourg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Cherbourg13% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Cherbourg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$7.18€6.18
144.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$60.6€52.1
13.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$13.42€11.55
4.77%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$3.49€3.00
-20.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$2.70€2.32
3.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$1.83€1.58
12.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$6.89€5.93
-35.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$5.95€5.12
-22.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Cherbourg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.30€1.12
-4.62%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$1.75€1.51
16.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.56€2.20
-25.00%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$3.98€3.42
-16.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$18.66€16.05
-1.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$13.84€11.91
-31.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$20.65€17.77
-7.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$3.08€2.65
-14.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$2.24€1.93
9.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$2.72€2.34
-22.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$3.54€3.04
-19.49%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$2.24€1.93
-8.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$2.50€2.15
-26.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$1.54€1.32
-4.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.66€0.57
27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$13.39€11.52
-46.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$8.16€7.02
-3.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$2.60€2.24
-46.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$3.49€3.01
-33.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Cherbourg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$1.60€1.37
86.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
$48.87€42.04
-40.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$4.59€3.95
0.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$1.89€1.63
9.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$36.36€31.28
-19.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$2.22€1.91
-17.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$37.1K€32.0K
5.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$37.2K€32.0K
-12.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Cherbourg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$192€165
-2.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$23.68€20.37
-3.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$33.47€28.79
9.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Cherbourg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$38.08€32.76
50.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
$18.12€15.59
14.24%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$13.98€12.02
-19.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Cherbourg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$793€682
-9.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$8,764€7,539
71.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Cherbourg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$102€88.0
-15.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$39.38€33.88
-5.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$90.1€77.5
13.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$136€117
-14.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Cherbourg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$763€656
101.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$396€341
208.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$1,368€1,177
97.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$1,081€930
86.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
$4,192€3,606
72.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
$3,082€2,651
68.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Cherbourg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
$2,520€2,168
-6.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
3.63
-6.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Cherbourg: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $763 in Cherbourg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cherbourg pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $61.0 in Cherbourg. Groceries flip the comparison at $318 vs $363, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.
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 Cherbourg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Cherbourg?
Barcelona and Cherbourg differ by about 56% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,513 including rent). Cherbourg is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Cherbourg earns 7% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Cherbourg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $763 in Cherbourg. 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 Cherbourg?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $793 in Cherbourg. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,513 in Cherbourg versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cherbourg but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Cherbourg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Cherbourg?
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 Cherbourg safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Cherbourg 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 Cherbourg?
Expats usually find Cherbourg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.