😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $973 in Focsani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,488 in Focsani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $2,003 in Focsani.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 140% more expensive than Focsani, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Focsani is 28% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$8.30RON 37.54
105.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$46.60RON 211
48.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$5.60RON 25.35
146.07%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$1.82RON 8.23
51.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$1.63RON 7.36
71.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$1.37RON 6.19
45.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.88RON 8.52
131.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$2.73RON 12.34
73.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.48RON 6.72
-12.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$0.82RON 3.72
150.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.75RON 7.92
13.71%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$2.85RON 12.91
18.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$8.49RON 38.43
121.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$7.07RON 31.99
32.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$11.76RON 53.2
62.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$0.98RON 4.41
175.51%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.41RON 6.38
65.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.40RON 6.35
51.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$2.24RON 10.12
27.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$0.72RON 3.25
173.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$0.96RON 4.35
87.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$0.60RON 2.73
141.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.77RON 3.48
11.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$5.71RON 25.84
18.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$4.46RON 20.15
77.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.11RON 5.01
25.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$1.16RON 5.25
104.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.60RON 2.71
386.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$14.19RON 64.2
102.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$0.76RON 3.44
486.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$0.75RON 3.40
173.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$6.87RON 31.08
330.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.56RON 7.06
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$28.4KRON 128.3K
36.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$27.9KRON 126.4K
18.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$167RON 755
13.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$8.00RON 36.17
185.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$8.78RON 39.73
328.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$17.02RON 77.0
239.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$19.33RON 87.4
7.29%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$11.07RON 50.1
-2.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$422RON 1,907
72.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$6,472RON 29.3K
128.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$67.0RON 303
32.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$43.40RON 196
-15.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$57.0RON 258
79.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$69.1RON 313
67.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$349RON 1,576
350.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$273RON 1,233
346.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$577RON 2,611
384.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$440RON 1,992
348.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$1,115RON 5,044
595.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$905RON 4,093
472.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$707RON 3,198
231.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.5
-47.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Focsani: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $349 in Focsani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 232% 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 $47.00 in Focsani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $200 per month, with Focsani 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 Focsani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Focsani?
Barcelona and Focsani differ by about 140% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $973 including rent). Focsani is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Focsani?
Barcelona pays 232% 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 Focsani?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $349 in Focsani. 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 Focsani?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $422 in Focsani. 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 59% 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 $973 in Focsani versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Focsani but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Focsani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Focsani?
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 Focsani safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Focsani 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 Focsani?
Expats usually find Focsani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 140% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.