😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,148 in Esztergom.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,715 in Esztergom.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,283 in Esztergom.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 104% more expensive than Esztergom, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Esztergom is 14% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$8.83Ft 2,755
99.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$43.15Ft 13.5K
59.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$8.54Ft 2,664
61.01%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$1.96Ft 612
40.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$1.41Ft 439
97.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$1.20Ft 375
70.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$1.82Ft 569
153.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$2.33Ft 727
97.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.06Ft 331
20.75%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$1.51Ft 471
39.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.88Ft 587
4.79%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$2.72Ft 850
26.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$9.12Ft 2,845
106.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$5.92Ft 1,847
59.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$12.55Ft 3,917
51.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$1.66Ft 518
63.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$1.92Ft 600
23.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$1.84Ft 575
13.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$3.24Ft 1,009
-14.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.13Ft 353
74.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.43Ft 446
25.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$1.67Ft 522
-9.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.53Ft 167
69.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$7.08Ft 2,210
-4.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$6.58Ft 2,053
14.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.10Ft 345
30.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$1.70Ft 529
41.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$1.17Ft 365
158.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$24.59Ft 7,673
15.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$2.61Ft 814
69.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$1.12Ft 351
83.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$13.68Ft 4,267
114.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.72Ft 536
9.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$24.9KFt 7.8M
55.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$34.7KFt 10.8M
-6.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$200Ft 62.3K
-5.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$26.31Ft 8,209
-15.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$19.92Ft 6,216
84.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$46.44Ft 14.5K
24.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$16.96Ft 5,292
23.76%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$7.14Ft 2,228
54.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$327Ft 102.0K
122.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$3,472Ft 1.1M
338.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$54.6Ft 17.0K
61.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$27.20Ft 8,485
35.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$64.3Ft 20.1K
59.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$66.8Ft 20.9K
78.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$449Ft 140.2K
239.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$340Ft 106.1K
258.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$642Ft 200.2K
335.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$542Ft 169.1K
274.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$3,099Ft 967.0K
128.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$2,427Ft 757.3K
99.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$1,243Ft 387.9K
93.39%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Esztergom: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $449 in Esztergom. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 93% 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 $43.00 in Esztergom for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $224 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 104% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,148 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 93% 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: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $449 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 $327 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 $1,148 in Esztergom versus $2,341 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 104% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.