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: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $340 in Chingola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $580 in Chingola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $820 in Chingola.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 595% more expensive than Chingola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Chingola is 75% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.58 €15.12

$12.64 ZMW 226

39.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.4 €58.9

$20.63 ZMW 368

231.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.06 €12.09

Cappuccino

$2.78 €2.39

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

$2.80 €2.41

$0.39 ZMW 6.99

617.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 €1.78

$0.30 ZMW 5.37

586.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.46 €3.84

$0.52 ZMW 9.23

757.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 €3.96

$1.03 ZMW 18.38

347.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 €1.07

$1.03 ZMW 18.41

20.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 €1.74

$0.83 ZMW 14.76

144.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 €1.65

$2.13 ZMW 38.01

-9.86%

Eggs

$3.31 €2.85

$1.09 ZMW 19.39

203.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.43 €15.85

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.49 €8.16

$2.02 ZMW 36.09

369.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.16 €16.48

$3.74 ZMW 66.8

412.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 €2.27

$1.62 ZMW 28.83

62.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 €2.11

$1.63 ZMW 29.17

50.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 €1.82

$1.70 ZMW 30.39

24.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.85 €2.45

$1.61 ZMW 28.77

77.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 €1.75

$2.43 ZMW 43.30

-16.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 €1.59

$1.20 ZMW 21.50

54.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 €1.26

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.73

$0.74 ZMW 13.13

13.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.14 €6.14

$1.26 ZMW 22.47

466.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.88 €6.78

$5.43 ZMW 97.0

45.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.19

$0.51 ZMW 9.17

170.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 €1.99

$0.60 ZMW 10.63

285.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.98 €2.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.26 €25.17

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 €3.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 €1.78

$0.44 ZMW 7.91

370.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.18 €25.10

$8.40 ZMW 150

247.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 €1.58

$1.22 ZMW 21.77

50.82%

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

$39.0K €33.6K

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

$32.7K €28.1K

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

$188 €162

$42.04 ZMW 750

346.76%

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

$22.93 €19.73

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.71 €31.58

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.4 €49.35

$8.23 ZMW 147

597.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.70 €17.80

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 €9.63

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

$721 €620

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K €12.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.2 €74.2

$16.28 ZMW 291

429.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.07 €31.89

$10.28 ZMW 184

260.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 €87.8

$41.08 ZMW 733

148.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 €99.7

$62.3 ZMW 1,111

86.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,534 €1,319

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,220 €1,050

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,696 €2,319

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,013 €1,732

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,220 €6,211

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,189 €4,463

$16.2K ZMW 289.3K

-67.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,359 €2,029

$121 ZMW 2,161

1848.69%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chingola: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Barcelona pays 1849% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $21.00 in Chingola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 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 595% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $340 including rent). Chingola is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Barcelona pays 1849% more on average, 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 $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,367 per month in Barcelona versus $340 in Chingola – a 595% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $340 in Chingola versus $2,367 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 595% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.