😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,356 in Barcelona versus $894 in Duncans.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,455 in Barcelona versus $1,423 in Duncans.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,553 in Barcelona versus $1,952 in Duncans.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 164% more expensive than Duncans, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Duncans is 34% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Duncans
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.64€14.97
$7.38JMD 1,168
139.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€57.8
$61.7JMD 9,765
10.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.96€11.86
$8.53JMD 1,350
63.66%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.35
$4.38JMD 693
-36.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76€2.34
$1.36JMD 215
102.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97€1.67
$0.74JMD 118
166.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.53€3.84
$2.47JMD 391
83.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.85
$3.11JMD 492
45.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Duncans
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.05
$4.28JMD 677
-71.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04€1.73
$3.63JMD 574
-43.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91€1.62
$1.54JMD 244
24.03%
Eggs
$3.39€2.88
$3.46JMD 548
-2.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.34€15.57
$10.88JMD 1,721
68.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.39€7.97
$6.33JMD 1,003
48.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.90€16.04
$7.76JMD 1,228
143.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63€2.23
$6.04JMD 956
-56.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.40€2.04
$3.09JMD 488
-22.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.80
$4.18JMD 662
-49.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.70€2.29
$3.07JMD 486
-12.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05€1.74
$2.10JMD 333
-2.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78€1.51
$2.02JMD 320
-11.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.25
$3.11JMD 492
-52.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.77
$1.44JMD 229
-36.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€5.96
$9.00JMD 1,424
-22.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.59€6.44
$11.48JMD 1,817
-33.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.22
$2.90JMD 459
-50.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32€1.97
$3.04JMD 481
-23.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Duncans
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94€2.50
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.38€24.94
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.53€3.84
$1.07JMD 170
323.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.81
$3.23JMD 511
-33.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.97€24.59
$6.28JMD 993
361.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.61
$1.23JMD 195
53.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.1K
$43.1KJMD 6.8M
-9.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.5K
$34.2KJMD 5.4M
-5.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Duncans
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€160
$163JMD 25.8K
16.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.24€18.88
$22.03JMD 3,487
0.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.57€31.05
$50.7JMD 8,016
-27.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Duncans
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.26
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.30€18.08
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.01€9.35
$13.02JMD 2,061
-15.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Duncans
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$731€621
$229JMD 36.3K
218.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.6K
$2,435JMD 385.3K
509.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Duncans
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3€75.8
$26.13JMD 4,135
241.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38€31.73
$25.25JMD 3,996
48.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€88.8
$71.0JMD 11.2K
47.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€98.7
$76.2JMD 12.1K
52.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Duncans
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,551€1,317
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,216€1,032
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,799€2,376
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008€1,705
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,161€6,080
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,021€4,263
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Duncans
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,462€2,091
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
9.15
-62.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 13, 2026
Last update for Duncans: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,551 in Barcelona and $0 in Duncans. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68 in Barcelona vs $62 in Duncans. Groceries flip the comparison at $316 vs $351, 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 Duncans: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Duncans?
Barcelona and Duncans differ by about 164% in total monthly costs ($2,356 vs $894 including rent). Duncans is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Duncans?
You'd need roughly $3,534 in Barcelona and $1,341 in Duncans to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Duncans?
Childcare runs $731 in Barcelona versus $229 in Duncans. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Duncans – a meal for two runs $62.0 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $894 in Duncans versus $2,356 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Duncans but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Duncans the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Duncans?
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 Duncans safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Duncans 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 Duncans?
Expats usually find Duncans gentler on the wallet – expenses run 164% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.