Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Derna Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Derna

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $176 in Derna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $336 in Derna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $497 in Derna.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 1306% more expensive than in Derna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Derna is 87% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.74 €16.33

$3.99 LYD 25.27

369.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.5 €60.6

$7.71 LYD 48.89

801.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 €12.00

$3.06 LYD 19.41

350.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.45 LYD 2.85

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 LYD 4.12

Cappuccino

$3.10 €2.70

$0.45 LYD 2.88

588.89%

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

$2.83 €2.47

$0.33 LYD 2.12

757.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 €1.64

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 €3.47

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 €3.95

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 €1.11

$0.74 LYD 4.71

71.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.16 €1.88

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.53

$2.32 LYD 14.71

-24.14%

Eggs

$5.13 €4.47

$0.91 LYD 5.76

463.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.88 €15.59

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.65 €8.41

$3.10 LYD 19.62

211.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.15 €17.56

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 €2.84

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 €1.94

$0.76 LYD 4.84

193.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 €2.27

$0.93 LYD 5.91

179.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.76 €2.40

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 €1.93

Onion (1kg)

$2.12 €1.85

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 €1.35

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 €0.83

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.34 €6.40

Wine (Bottle)

$8.05 €7.01

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 €1.35

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 €2.43

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.11 €2.71

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.86 €22.54

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 €2.85

$0.82 LYD 5.19

298.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 €1.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.27 €29.88

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 €1.51

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

$36.4K €31.7K

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

$30.5K €26.6K

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

$187 €163

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

$15.14 €13.20

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.69 €32.85

$14.02 LYD 88.9

168.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 €48.76

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.08 €14.89

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 €9.95

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

$997 €869

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K €14.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.6 €80.8

$31.70 LYD 201

192.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.22 €35.93

$39.73 LYD 252

3.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 €96.9

$39.94 LYD 253

178.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 €109

$40.15 LYD 254

211.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,707 €1,488

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,286 €1,121

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,565 €2,236

$156 LYD 990

1543.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 €1,693

$92.9 LYD 589

1990.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,647 €6,666

$196 LYD 1,241

3804.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,167 €4,504

$79.2 LYD 502

6425.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,348 €2,047

$175 LYD 1,111

1239.60%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Derna: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Barcelona pays 1240% 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 $8.00 in Derna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $44.00 per month, with Derna 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 Derna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barcelona and Derna differ by about 1306% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $176 including rent). Derna is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 1240% 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 Derna – a meal for two runs $8.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,476 per month in Barcelona versus $176 in Derna – a 1306% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $176 in Derna versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Derna but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Derna 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 Derna 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 Derna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1306% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.