Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Chingola Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Chingola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $338 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $579 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $821 in Chingola.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 587% more expensive than in Chingola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Chingola is 75% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.66 €15.46

$12.20 ZMW 222

44.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 €61.0

$21.15 ZMW 385

229.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.16 €12.40

Cappuccino

$2.80 €2.45

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 €2.46

$0.40 ZMW 7.22

602.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 €1.81

$0.30 ZMW 5.48

586.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.60 €4.03

$0.48 ZMW 8.66

858.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.69 €4.11

$1.02 ZMW 18.50

359.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 €1.08

$1.00 ZMW 18.12

23.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 €1.78

$0.82 ZMW 14.89

147.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 €1.73

$2.11 ZMW 38.40

-6.16%

Eggs

$3.49 €3.05

$1.14 ZMW 20.66

206.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.33 €16.05

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.83 €8.61

$2.04 ZMW 37.20

381.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.13 €16.75

$3.65 ZMW 66.4

424.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 €2.39

$1.68 ZMW 30.53

62.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.38 €2.09

$1.67 ZMW 30.45

42.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 €1.82

$1.64 ZMW 29.94

26.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.75 €2.41

$1.69 ZMW 30.79

62.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.96 €1.72

$2.53 ZMW 46.04

-22.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 €1.57

$1.22 ZMW 22.21

46.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 €1.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 €0.80

$0.69 ZMW 12.50

31.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.13 €6.25

$1.27 ZMW 23.05

461.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.88 €6.90

$5.66 ZMW 103

39.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.21

$0.48 ZMW 8.81

187.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 €2.09

$0.60 ZMW 10.95

298.33%

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 €1.86

$0.45 ZMW 8.17

373.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.60 €25.93

$8.31 ZMW 151

256.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 €1.60

$1.22 ZMW 22.13

49.18%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.9K €33.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.4K €28.4K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$189 €166

$42.20 ZMW 768

347.94%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.29 €19.52

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.16 €32.55

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 €50.8

$8.08 ZMW 147

618.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.66 €18.09

Cinema Ticket

$10.87 €9.52

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$706 €618

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K €13.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.4 €78.3

$16.57 ZMW 302

439.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.60 €32.06

$10.28 ZMW 187

256.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 €91.1

$40.97 ZMW 746

153.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €105

$62.6 ZMW 1,139

90.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 €1,383

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

$16.9K ZMW 306.9K

-68.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,364 €2,070

$120 ZMW 2,183

1871.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.39

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chingola: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Barcelona pays 1871% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $21.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $119 per month, with Chingola 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 Chingola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barcelona and Chingola differ by about 587% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $338 including rent). Chingola is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 1871% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Dining out is cheaper in Chingola – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $70.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,320 per month in Barcelona versus $338 in Chingola – a 587% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $338 in Chingola versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Chingola but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Chingola the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Barcelona and Chingola are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chingola gentler on the wallet – expenses run 587% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.