Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Fargo, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Fargo, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,336 in Barcelona versus $2,045 in Fargo, ND.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,475 in Barcelona versus $3,203 in Fargo, ND.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,614 in Barcelona versus $4,361 in Fargo, ND.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 14% more expensive than Fargo, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 74% above, Fargo, ND 53% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.45 €14.88
$14.92 $14.92
16.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8 €59.6
$50.5 $50.5
38.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.91 €11.86
$10.95 $10.95
27.03%
Cappuccino
$2.74 €2.34
$5.22 $5.22
-47.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 €2.30
$2.66 $2.66
1.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 €1.73
$1.97 $1.97
3.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.51 €3.85
$5.93 $5.93
-23.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 €3.93
$8.39 $8.39
-45.05%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 €1.09
$1.26 $1.26
1.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.10 €1.79
$3.40 $3.40
-38.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 €1.70
$6.03 $6.03
-67.00%
Eggs
$3.45 €2.95
$3.89 $3.89
-11.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.61 €15.87
$12.45 $12.45
49.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.41 €8.03
$14.64 $14.64
-35.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.70 €15.95
$19.36 $19.36
-3.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 €2.22
$8.30 $8.30
-68.55%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 €2.04
$2.80 $2.80
-14.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 €1.86
$6.42 $6.42
-65.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.81 €2.40
$4.69 $4.69
-40.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.03 €1.73
$3.68 $3.68
-44.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 €1.60
$3.51 $3.51
-46.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.24
$1.96 $1.96
-26.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 €0.79
$2.73 $2.73
-66.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82 €5.82
$8.94 $8.94
-23.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.71 €6.58
$16.77 $16.77
-54.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.18
$2.63 $2.63
-47.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 €1.99
$4.93 $4.93
-52.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.88 €2.46
$1.54 $1.54
87.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.04 €24.77
$41.57 $41.57
-30.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.43 €3.78
$4.55 $4.55
-2.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 €1.82
$1.60 $1.60
33.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.96 €24.71
$29.67 $29.67
-2.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 €1.62
$0.78 $0.78
143.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K €32.3K
$33.4K $33.4K
13.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K €28.4K
$25.3K $25.3K
31.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 €158
$161 $161
15.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.17 €18.91
$54.9 $54.9
-59.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.52 €31.15
$57.9 $57.9
-36.89%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.4 €49.81
$55.8 $55.8
4.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.75 €17.70
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.10 €9.47
$13.89 $13.89
-20.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$705 €601
$1,252 $1,252
-43.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K €13.0K
$23.2K $23.2K
-34.30%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 €73.7
$51.3 $51.3
68.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.88 €31.46
$47.12 $47.12
-21.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €88.8
$89.1 $89.1
16.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 €98.4
$108 $108
6.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,538 €1,312
$970 $970
58.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,242 €1,060
$766 $766
62.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,728 €2,327
$2,598 $2,598
5.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,011 €1,716
$1,547 $1,547
29.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,155 €6,104
$1,795 $1,795
298.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,843 €4,131
$1,774 $1,774
173.06%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,474 €2,111
$3,785 $3,785
-34.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
6.56
-48.32%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: April 19, 2026

Last update for Fargo, ND: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,538 in Barcelona and $970 in Fargo, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fargo, ND pays 53% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70 in Barcelona vs $50 in Fargo, ND. Groceries flip the comparison at $318 vs $478, 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 Fargo, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Fargo, ND?
Barcelona and Fargo, ND differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($2,336 vs $2,045 including rent). Fargo, ND is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Fargo, ND earns 53% less. 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 Fargo, ND?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,538 in Barcelona versus $970 in Fargo, ND. 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 Fargo, ND?
Childcare runs $705 in Barcelona versus $1,252 in Fargo, ND. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 50% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,045 in Fargo, ND versus $2,336 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Fargo, ND but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Fargo, ND the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Fargo, ND?
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 Fargo, ND safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Fargo, ND 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 Fargo, ND?
Expats usually find Fargo, ND gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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