😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $1,060 in Focsani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $1,708 in Focsani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $2,356 in Focsani.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 134% more expensive than in Focsani, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Focsani is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$7.79RON 35.72
140.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$44.04RON 202
57.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$7.71RON 35.39
78.60%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.52RON 11.56
23.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$1.99RON 9.15
42.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$1.72RON 7.91
9.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$1.93RON 8.83
106.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$2.69RON 12.35
68.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.81RON 8.33
-29.83%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$1.14RON 5.24
89.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.36RON 6.23
29.41%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$3.27RON 15.01
56.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$9.31RON 42.72
92.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$7.21RON 33.06
33.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$10.87RON 49.88
85.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$1.28RON 5.89
153.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$1.65RON 7.59
35.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$1.63RON 7.47
59.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$2.29RON 10.49
20.52%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$0.88RON 4.04
151.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$0.77RON 3.52
175.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$0.64RON 2.92
142.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.74RON 3.39
28.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$6.09RON 27.95
20.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$4.45RON 20.44
80.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$1.21RON 5.54
27.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$1.58RON 7.27
76.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$0.86RON 3.94
261.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
$16.82RON 77.2
53.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$0.68RON 3.12
380.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$0.64RON 2.92
131.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$6.50RON 29.81
427.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$1.79RON 8.21
-3.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$26.6KRON 121.9K
36.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$25.9KRON 118.8K
17.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$178RON 816
5.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$8.43RON 38.69
79.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$10.03RON 46.02
275.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$29.24RON 134
91.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
$38.02RON 174
-55.08%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$8.72RON 40.02
30.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$325RON 1,491
206.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$14.8KRON 68.0K
11.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$93.9RON 431
-1.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$39.77RON 182
3.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$82.4RON 378
35.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$97.8RON 449
27.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$396RON 1,817
331.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$302RON 1,387
325.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$958RON 4,395
167.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$671RON 3,077
189.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
$1,124RON 5,159
580.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
$924RON 4,242
458.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Focsani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
$707RON 3,245
232.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
6.76
-53.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Focsani: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $396 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 $44.00 in Focsani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $213 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 in Focsani?
Barcelona and Focsani differ by about 134% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $1,060 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?
Average pay runs 232% 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 Focsani?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $396 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 $997 in Barcelona versus $325 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 58% 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 $1,060 in Focsani versus $2,476 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 134% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.