😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $1,165 in Esztergom.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $1,696 in Esztergom.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $2,227 in Esztergom.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 106% more expensive than Esztergom, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Esztergom is 13% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68€15.22
$8.68Ft 2,608
103.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€60.3
$43.47Ft 13.1K
61.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.76
$8.47Ft 2,545
61.28%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.36
$1.97Ft 592
39.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$1.42Ft 425
96.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$1.25Ft 375
56.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.88Ft 565
131.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.94
$2.25Ft 675
103.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.04Ft 313
24.04%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.51Ft 455
35.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$1.90Ft 571
4.21%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$2.64Ft 792
28.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.64€16.05
$9.11Ft 2,738
104.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56€8.23
$5.95Ft 1,788
60.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83€16.22
$12.41Ft 3,730
51.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$1.67Ft 502
64.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$1.99Ft 599
24.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.80
$1.80Ft 542
16.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$3.31Ft 994
-14.80%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.74
$1.13Ft 341
78.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$1.38Ft 414
34.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.30
$1.60Ft 480
-5.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.54Ft 162
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06€6.08
$6.94Ft 2,085
1.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98€6.87
$6.48Ft 1,948
23.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.23
$1.16Ft 348
23.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.97
$1.78Ft 535
28.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.48
$1.12Ft 338
157.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.45
$24.69Ft 7,419
14.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.77
$2.53Ft 761
73.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.84
$1.16Ft 349
84.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15€25.10
$13.94Ft 4,188
109.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.61
$1.74Ft 524
6.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$24.3KFt 7.3M
60.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$34.6KFt 10.4M
-5.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$200Ft 60.0K
-5.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71€19.56
$26.75Ft 8,038
-15.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51€31.43
$19.89Ft 5,975
83.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€49.59
$46.01Ft 13.8K
25.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37€18.40
$16.78Ft 5,042
27.35%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.31
$7.41Ft 2,226
45.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€625
$330Ft 99.2K
120.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K€13.0K
$3,465Ft 1.0M
335.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€75.5
$55.2Ft 16.6K
58.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89€31.77
$26.99Ft 8,111
36.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.2
$62.2Ft 18.7K
66.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$67.3Ft 20.2K
73.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,355
$440Ft 132.1K
257.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$345Ft 103.7K
253.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,711€2,335
$634Ft 190.5K
327.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,966€1,693
$534Ft 160.4K
268.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,811€6,726
$3,471Ft 1.0M
125.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,267€4,535
$2,512Ft 754.8K
109.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,375€2,045
$1,242Ft 373.2K
91.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
7.5
-54.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 14, 2026
Last update for Esztergom: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Barcelona and $440 in Esztergom. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 91% 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 $43.00 in Esztergom for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $223 per month, with Esztergom 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 Esztergom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Esztergom?
Barcelona and Esztergom differ by about 106% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $1,165 including rent). Esztergom is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Esztergom?
Barcelona pays 91% 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 Esztergom?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,573 in Barcelona versus $440 in Esztergom. 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 Esztergom?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $330 in Esztergom. 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 43% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,165 in Esztergom versus $2,399 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Esztergom but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Esztergom the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Esztergom?
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 Esztergom safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Esztergom 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 Esztergom?
Expats usually find Esztergom gentler on the wallet – expenses run 106% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.