😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,300 in Constanta.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $2,124 in Constanta.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $2,947 in Constanta.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 80% more expensive than Constanta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Constanta is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.80
$13.58RON 61.7
25.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€60.0
$69.9RON 317
-0.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.95
$7.96RON 36.13
73.12%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.39
$3.35RON 15.19
-17.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.42
$1.90RON 8.64
46.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.73
$1.30RON 5.92
53.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.78
$2.26RON 10.25
92.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.11
$3.26RON 14.79
45.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.12
$1.71RON 7.76
-24.56%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.78
$1.25RON 5.68
64.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$1.90RON 8.61
4.74%
Eggs
$3.39€2.94
$3.23RON 14.65
4.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.31
$9.92RON 45.05
89.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.12
$6.76RON 30.71
38.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.57
$11.78RON 53.5
62.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.34
$1.45RON 6.58
86.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.03
$1.73RON 7.87
35.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.84
$1.76RON 8.01
20.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.47
$2.52RON 11.45
13.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.71
$1.01RON 4.57
95.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.56
$1.11RON 5.04
62.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.26
$1.02RON 4.64
42.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.90RON 4.10
-4.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$6.27RON 28.47
8.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.85
$6.76RON 30.69
16.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.10RON 5.00
26.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.06
$1.87RON 8.51
26.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.53
$0.67RON 3.02
335.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.86
$18.09RON 82.1
58.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.86
$0.95RON 4.30
369.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.78
$0.70RON 3.16
192.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.61
$7.83RON 35.54
277.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.57
$1.68RON 7.63
8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.7K
$28.0KRON 127.3K
38.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.7K
$27.9KRON 126.6K
18.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€164
$187RON 850
1.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.76
$7.96RON 36.13
186.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.58
$9.03RON 40.99
316.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€50.1
$58.2RON 264
-0.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.98
$37.53RON 170
-44.74%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.38
$8.16RON 37.06
32.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€631
$539RON 2,448
35.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.8K
$8,309RON 37.7K
77.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.8
$69.0RON 313
28.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.94
$65.7RON 298
-43.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€88.4
$75.8RON 344
34.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€101
$79.3RON 360
46.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,360
$589RON 2,675
166.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,056
$458RON 2,080
165.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,423
$1,133RON 5,145
146.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,712
$864RON 3,923
128.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,720
$2,572RON 11.7K
201.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,486
$2,018RON 9,159
156.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Constanta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,031
$985RON 4,469
138.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.78
-50.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Constanta: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $589 in Constanta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 138% 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 $70.0 in Constanta. Groceries flip the comparison at $319 vs $229, with Constanta cheaper for home cooking.
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 Constanta?
Barcelona and Constanta differ by about 80% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,300 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?
Barcelona pays 138% 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 Constanta?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $589 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 $728 in Barcelona versus $539 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 39% 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 $1,300 in Constanta versus $2,337 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 80% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.