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: $2,495 in Barcelona versus $455 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,550 in Barcelona versus $776 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Barcelona versus $1,097 in Chingola.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 449% more expensive than in Chingola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 82% above, Chingola is 67% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.39 €15.81

$16.07 ZMW 307

14.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.2 €59.5

$25.85 ZMW 494

167.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.13 €12.15

Cappuccino

$3.13 €2.69

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

$3.02 €2.59

$0.54 ZMW 10.37

459.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 €1.69

$0.38 ZMW 7.30

415.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.00 €3.44

$0.65 ZMW 12.35

515.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 €4.09

$1.30 ZMW 24.90

266.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 €1.07

$1.88 ZMW 35.94

-33.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.16 €1.86

$1.28 ZMW 24.37

68.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 €1.45

$2.58 ZMW 49.35

-34.50%

Eggs

$4.93 €4.24

$1.93 ZMW 36.95

155.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.88 €15.37

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.61 €8.26

$5.16 ZMW 98.5

86.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 €16.63

$4.85 ZMW 92.7

298.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 €2.78

$2.08 ZMW 39.72

55.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 €1.87

$2.15 ZMW 40.98

1.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 €2.30

$2.07 ZMW 39.60

28.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 €2.38

$2.15 ZMW 41.11

28.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 €1.90

$3.13 ZMW 59.8

-29.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 €1.88

$1.59 ZMW 30.44

37.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 €1.31

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 €0.79

$0.88 ZMW 16.85

4.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.12 €6.12

$1.54 ZMW 29.42

362.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.14 €6.99

$5.34 ZMW 102

52.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.29

$0.65 ZMW 12.49

130.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 €2.39

$0.81 ZMW 15.56

243.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.15 €2.71

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.99 €23.21

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 €2.79

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 €1.29

$0.60 ZMW 11.45

150.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.89 €30.00

$10.57 ZMW 202

230.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.75 €1.50

$1.41 ZMW 26.96

24.11%

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

$36.7K €31.5K

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

$30.9K €26.6K

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

$188 €161

$53.4 ZMW 1,020

251.43%

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

$15.44 €13.27

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.80 €32.49

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 €49.16

$10.59 ZMW 202

439.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 €14.44

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 €9.95

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

$1,003 €862

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K €14.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.2 €76.7

$21.26 ZMW 406

319.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.87 €35.14

$13.00 ZMW 248

214.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 €94.5

$53.4 ZMW 1,020

105.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 €105

$79.5 ZMW 1,518

54.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,673 €1,438

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,331 €1,145

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,596 €2,232

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,950 €1,676

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,573 €6,511

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,370 €4,617

$15.7K ZMW 299.0K

-65.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,402 €2,065

$115 ZMW 2,192

1993.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.16

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

Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chingola: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Barcelona pays 1993% 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: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $26.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $171 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 449% in total monthly costs ($2,495 vs $455 including rent). Chingola is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 1993% 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 $26.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,495 per month in Barcelona versus $455 in Chingola – a 449% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $455 in Chingola versus $2,495 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 449% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.