😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,482 in Barcelona versus $1,323 in Constanta.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in Barcelona versus $2,009 in Constanta.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $2,696 in Constanta.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 88% more expensive than in Constanta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Constanta is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42€15.84
$13.10RON 59.2
40.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4€59.7
$67.5RON 305
2.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.05€12.08
$7.78RON 35.12
80.59%
Cappuccino
$3.11€2.67
$3.31RON 14.95
-6.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.54
$1.82RON 8.22
62.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.68
$1.30RON 5.87
50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.99€3.43
$2.16RON 9.75
84.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€3.97
$3.24RON 14.65
42.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.14
$1.72RON 7.78
-23.26%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$1.31RON 5.89
61.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.74RON 7.88
5.17%
Eggs
$5.16€4.44
$3.06RON 13.80
68.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.56€15.10
$8.96RON 40.47
95.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.50€8.17
$5.95RON 26.89
59.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.93€17.14
$9.37RON 42.33
112.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.72
$1.36RON 6.15
133.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.90
$1.75RON 7.89
26.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61€2.24
$1.64RON 7.42
59.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$2.74RON 12.38
4.01%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$1.02RON 4.63
112.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.81
$1.04RON 4.68
102.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62€1.39
$1.05RON 4.74
54.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$0.92RON 4.16
-4.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17€6.16
$6.55RON 29.56
9.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.33€7.16
$6.82RON 30.81
22.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.07RON 4.82
40.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75€2.37
$1.80RON 8.12
52.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.14€2.70
$0.63RON 2.85
398.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.25€22.57
$17.52RON 79.1
49.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22€2.77
$0.85RON 3.82
278.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.30
$0.86RON 3.89
75.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.26€30.31
$7.86RON 35.48
348.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.51
$1.85RON 8.36
-5.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.5K
$29.2KRON 131.9K
25.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K€27.2K
$25.5KRON 115.0K
24.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€161
$176RON 797
6.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10€12.98
$8.14RON 36.74
85.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.60€32.33
$8.72RON 39.40
331.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5€47.71
$57.6RON 260
-3.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.74€14.39
$14.22RON 64.2
17.72%
Cinema Ticket
$11.71€10.07
$7.06RON 31.88
65.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,011€869
$591RON 2,668
71.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.1K€14.7K
$8,122RON 36.7K
110.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4€78.6
$70.2RON 317
30.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00€35.25
$48.40RON 219
-15.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€95.1
$91.2RON 412
21.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126€108
$89.4RON 404
41.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,704€1,465
$626RON 2,828
172.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,299€1,117
$491RON 2,216
164.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,588€2,225
$1,105RON 4,992
134.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,929€1,659
$776RON 3,506
148.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,732€6,648
$2,583RON 11.7K
199.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,384€4,629
$2,100RON 9,485
156.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,374€2,041
$1,001RON 4,520
137.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
6.99
-54.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Last update for Constanta: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Barcelona and $626 in Constanta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 137% 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 $68.0 in Constanta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $215 per month, with Constanta 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 Constanta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Constanta?
Barcelona and Constanta differ by about 88% in total monthly costs ($2,482 vs $1,323 including rent). Constanta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Constanta?
Average pay runs 137% higher in Barcelona, 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 in Constanta?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,704 in Barcelona versus $626 in Constanta. 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 Constanta?
Childcare runs $1,011 in Barcelona versus $591 in Constanta. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,323 in Constanta versus $2,482 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Constanta but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Constanta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Constanta?
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 Constanta safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Constanta 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 Constanta?
Expats usually find Constanta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 88% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.