😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $1,315 in Esztergom.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $2,061 in Esztergom.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $2,807 in Esztergom.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 88% more expensive than in Esztergom, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Esztergom is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.32
$12.66Ft 3,999
48.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.5
$53.1Ft 16.8K
30.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€11.99
$9.62Ft 3,040
43.14%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.70Ft 852
14.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$2.03Ft 643
39.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$1.21Ft 383
55.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$3.08Ft 974
29.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$2.87Ft 906
57.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.26Ft 397
0.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$1.56Ft 491
38.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$2.45Ft 773
-28.16%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$3.31Ft 1,045
54.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.58
$11.24Ft 3,553
59.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$6.55Ft 2,068
47.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.55
$14.14Ft 4,466
42.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.83
$2.44Ft 771
33.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$2.12Ft 670
5.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$2.20Ft 694
18.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$4.05Ft 1,281
-31.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$1.18Ft 373
87.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$1.36Ft 429
55.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$1.80Ft 569
-13.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.50Ft 158
90.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$8.16Ft 2,580
-10.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$6.46Ft 2,041
24.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$1.29Ft 408
19.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$1.70Ft 537
64.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$1.30Ft 409
139.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.53
$30.08Ft 9,505
-14.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$3.20Ft 1,013
2.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$1.57Ft 495
-5.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.86
$19.25Ft 6,083
78.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$1.92Ft 606
-9.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$33.7KFt 10.6M
7.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$38.0KFt 12.0M
-19.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$156Ft 49.3K
20.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.19
$34.10Ft 10.8K
-55.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.83
$28.34Ft 8,954
32.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.73
$49.74Ft 15.7K
12.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.88
$17.71Ft 5,596
-3.56%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.94
$8.08Ft 2,554
41.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€868
$514Ft 162.5K
93.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$7,025Ft 2.2M
135.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.7
$92.6Ft 29.2K
0.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.91
$28.78Ft 9,092
43.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$102Ft 32.2K
9.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$112Ft 35.4K
11.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,487
$530Ft 167.3K
222.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,120
$404Ft 127.6K
218.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,235
$824Ft 260.3K
211.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,692
$588Ft 185.7K
230.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,662
$2,872Ft 907.5K
166.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,501
$2,740Ft 865.5K
88.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Esztergom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,046
$1,202Ft 379.8K
95.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
8.25
-61.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Esztergom: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $530 in Esztergom. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 95% 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 $53.0 in Esztergom for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $256 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 in Esztergom?
Barcelona and Esztergom differ by about 88% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $1,315 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?
Average pay runs 95% higher in Barcelona, 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 in Esztergom?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $530 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 $997 in Barcelona versus $514 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 31% 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 $1,315 in Esztergom versus $2,476 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 88% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.