😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,911 in Compiegne.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $2,885 in Compiegne.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $3,858 in Compiegne.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 24% more expensive than Compiegne, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Compiegne43% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Compiegne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$17.18€14.78
2.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$68.1€58.6
0.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$14.12€12.15
-0.42%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$3.71€3.20
-25.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$3.12€2.68
-10.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$2.15€1.85
-4.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$8.23€7.08
-45.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$5.81€5.00
-20.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Compiegne
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.53€1.31
-18.95%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$1.53€1.32
32.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.97€2.55
-35.35%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$3.97€3.41
-16.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$22.72€19.54
-18.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$13.34€11.47
-28.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$24.28€20.89
-21.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$3.71€3.19
-28.84%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$2.17€1.87
12.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$2.48€2.13
-14.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$3.16€2.72
-9.81%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.89€1.63
7.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$2.04€1.76
-9.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$1.52€1.30
-3.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.68€0.59
23.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$12.05€10.37
-40.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$5.72€4.92
37.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$2.35€2.03
-41.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$4.24€3.65
-45.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Compiegne
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$1.95€1.68
52.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
$49.38€42.47
-40.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$4.56€3.92
0.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$1.87€1.61
10.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$32.88€28.29
-11.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$2.10€1.81
-12.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$37.1K€31.9K
5.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$37.7K€32.4K
-13.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Compiegne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$200€172
-6.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$17.35€14.92
32.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$23.24€19.99
57.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Compiegne
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$40.90€35.18
40.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
$18.34€15.78
12.87%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$14.72€12.67
-23.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Compiegne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$289€248
149.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$8,644€7,436
74.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Compiegne
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$90.1€77.5
-4.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$37.02€31.84
0.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$86.6€74.5
17.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$105€90.1
10.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Compiegne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$934€804
64.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$694€597
75.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$1,365€1,174
97.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$1,072€922
87.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
$3,434€2,954
110.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
$2,185€1,879
137.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Compiegne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
$2,294€1,973
2.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
3.69
-8.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Compiegne: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $934 in Compiegne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 3% 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 $68.0 in Compiegne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $379 per month, with Barcelona 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 Compiegne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Compiegne?
Barcelona and Compiegne differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,911 including rent). Compiegne is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Compiegne?
Barcelona pays 3% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Compiegne?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $934 in Compiegne. 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 Compiegne?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $289 in Compiegne. 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 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,911 in Compiegne versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Compiegne but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Compiegne the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Compiegne?
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 Compiegne safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Compiegne 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 Compiegne?
Expats usually find Compiegne gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.