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: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $2,011 in Fargo, ND.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $3,207 in Fargo, ND.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $4,402 in Fargo, ND.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 23% more expensive than in Fargo, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 81% above, Fargo, ND 47% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74 €16.22
$15.05 $15.05
24.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5 €60.1
$60.6 $60.6
14.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.77 €11.92
$11.05 $11.05
24.62%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.68
$5.27 $5.27
-41.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 €2.45
$2.59 $2.59
9.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 €1.63
$1.97 $1.97
-4.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.98 €3.45
$5.35 $5.35
-25.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €3.92
$8.94 $8.94
-49.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.10
$1.22 $1.22
4.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 €1.87
$3.50 $3.50
-38.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.52
$7.50 $7.50
-76.53%
Eggs
$5.13 €4.44
$4.09 $4.09
25.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.88 €15.48
$14.43 $14.43
23.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 €8.36
$15.35 $15.35
-37.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.15 €17.44
$21.43 $21.43
-5.97%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 €2.82
$10.64 $10.64
-69.45%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 €1.93
$2.36 $2.36
-5.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.60 €2.25
$6.35 $6.35
-59.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 €2.39
$5.66 $5.66
-51.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 €1.91
$5.07 $5.07
-56.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 €1.83
$3.82 $3.82
-44.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 €1.34
$1.98 $1.98
-21.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 €0.83
$2.71 $2.71
-64.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34 €6.36
$9.00 $9.00
-18.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.05 €6.97
$18.57 $18.57
-56.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 €1.34
$2.61 $2.61
-41.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 €2.42
$5.53 $5.53
-49.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.11 €2.69
$1.48 $1.48
110.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.86 €22.39
$41.56 $41.56
-37.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.27 €2.83
$4.55 $4.55
-28.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 €1.28
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.27 €29.67
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 €1.50
$0.94 $0.94
84.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K €31.5K
$34.8K $34.8K
4.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K €26.4K
$24.8K $24.8K
23.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 €162
$135 $135
38.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14 €13.11
$54.2 $54.2
-72.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69 €32.62
$58.6 $58.6
-35.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 €48.43
$55.9 $55.9
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08 €14.79
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.41 €9.88
$13.68 $13.68
-16.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$997 €863
$1,243 $1,243
-19.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6 €80.2
$51.7 $51.7
79.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22 €35.69
$47.04 $47.04
-12.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 €96.3
$91.0 $91.0
22.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €108
$101 $101
24.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,707 €1,478
$939 $939
81.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,286 €1,113
$689 $689
86.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,565 €2,221
$2,237 $2,237
14.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,942 €1,681
$1,493 $1,493
30.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,647 €6,620
$1,788 $1,788
327.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,167 €4,473
$1,777 $1,777
190.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Fargo, ND
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,348 €2,033
$3,773 $3,773
-37.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.16
6.3
-49.84%

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

Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026

Last update for Fargo, ND: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $939 in Fargo, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fargo, ND pays 61% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $61.0 in Fargo, ND. Groceries flip the comparison at $336 vs $524, 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 in Fargo, ND?
Barcelona and Fargo, ND differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $2,011 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, salaries run 61% lower in Fargo, ND. 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 in Fargo, ND?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $939 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 $997 in Barcelona versus $1,243 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 56% 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 $2,011 in Fargo, ND versus $2,476 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 23% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Barcelona vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities