🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $2,354 in Duncan BC.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $3,577 in Duncan BC.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $4,801 in Duncan BC.
🌍Living in Barcelona costs roughly 1% less than in Duncan BC, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, Duncan BC76% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Duncan BC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$18.27CA$25.71
-3.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$69.5CA$97.7
0.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$11.15CA$15.69
27.00%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$4.07CA$5.72
-31.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$2.13CA$3.00
31.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$1.80CA$2.53
14.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$5.27CA$7.41
-12.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$6.20CA$8.72
-24.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Duncan BC
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.52CA$2.14
-19.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$2.74CA$3.86
-25.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$5.51CA$7.75
-64.07%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$3.71CA$5.23
-5.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$10.16CA$14.30
80.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$11.91CA$16.75
-17.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$14.56CA$20.48
31.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$3.33CA$4.68
-18.02%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$1.33CA$1.87
78.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$2.97CA$4.18
-29.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$3.34CA$4.70
-17.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$2.45CA$3.45
-20.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$2.03CA$2.86
-11.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$2.49CA$3.51
-40.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$1.70CA$2.39
-46.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$14.19CA$19.97
-49.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$11.44CA$16.10
-31.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$3.94CA$5.54
-64.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$3.99CA$5.61
-40.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Duncan BC
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$1.98CA$2.79
52.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$76.8CA$108
-61.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$2.74CA$3.86
59.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$1.47CA$2.07
44.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$29.22CA$41.12
1.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.31CA$1.84
38.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$23.8KCA$33.5K
59.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$20.9KCA$29.4K
55.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Duncan BC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$158CA$223
19.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$42.68CA$60.1
-47.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$67.8CA$95.4
-45.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Duncan BC
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$62.4CA$87.8
-7.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$12.75CA$17.95
-14.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Duncan BC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$916CA$1,289
-22.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$10.6KCA$14.9K
40.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Duncan BC
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$55.0CA$77.3
62.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$52.4CA$73.7
-30.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$101CA$142
3.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$94.8CA$133
25.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Duncan BC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$1,288CA$1,813
22.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$1,125CA$1,582
10.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$2,350CA$3,306
15.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$2,146CA$3,019
-4.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$4,387CA$6,173
71.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$3,621CA$5,095
44.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Duncan BC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$3,104CA$4,368
-23.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.54
-48.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Duncan BC: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $1,288 in Duncan BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Duncan BC pays 31% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $69.0 in Duncan BC. Groceries flip the comparison at $320 vs $359, with Barcelona 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 Duncan BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Duncan BC?
Barcelona and Duncan BC differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $2,354 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 31% lower in Duncan BC. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Duncan BC?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $1,288 in Duncan BC. 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 Duncan BC?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $916 in Duncan BC. 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 12% higher in Duncan BC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,320 in Barcelona versus $2,354 in Duncan BC, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Duncan BC. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Duncan BC?
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 Duncan BC safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Duncan BC 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 Duncan BC?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Duncan BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.