😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $2,007 in Forli.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $2,755 in Forli.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $3,502 in Forli.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 18% more expensive than Forli, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Forli50% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Forli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.14
$15.98€13.76
10.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$57.7€49.70
18.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.10
$11.67€10.04
20.48%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$1.85€1.59
50.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$3.01€2.59
-6.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$1.39€1.20
48.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$5.52€4.76
-19.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.97
$5.62€4.84
-17.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Forli
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.39€1.19
-10.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.75
$2.86€2.46
-29.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.64€2.27
-27.27%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$4.78€4.11
-30.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.87
$16.09€13.86
14.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.17
$12.89€11.10
-26.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.50
$20.86€17.96
-8.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$2.70€2.33
-2.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$2.65€2.29
-7.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$3.64€3.13
-41.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$3.91€3.36
-27.11%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$2.74€2.36
-25.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$1.84€1.58
0.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.27
$1.55€1.34
-5.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.57€0.49
47.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.15
$6.42€5.53
11.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.79
$8.31€7.16
-5.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.65€1.42
-16.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$1.66€1.43
39.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Forli
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.57
$1.78€1.53
67.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.20
$37.29€32.11
-21.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.96
$7.03€6.05
-34.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$2.14€1.84
-3.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.13
$32.80€28.24
-11.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$2.13€1.83
-13.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$28.1K€24.2K
38.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$36.8K€31.7K
-11.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Forli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$262€225
-28.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.75
$12.81€11.03
79.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.61
$31.19€26.86
17.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Forli
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.41
$69.2€59.6
-17.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.82
$17.34€14.93
19.38%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.64
$9.73€8.38
15.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Forli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€621
$205€177
251.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€13.0K
$11.3K€9,712
33.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Forli
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$82.3€70.9
4.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.92
$26.97€23.22
37.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$99.0€85.3
3.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.8
$128€110
-9.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Forli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,321
$658€567
133.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,051
$743€640
64.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,321
$1,179€1,015
128.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,734
$883€760
128.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,217
$1,801€1,551
300.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,468
$1,496€1,289
246.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Forli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,032
$2,144€1,847
10.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.24
-20.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Forli: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $658 in Forli. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 10% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $58.0 in Forli. Groceries flip the comparison at $318 vs $364, 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 Forli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Forli?
Barcelona and Forli differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $2,007 including rent). Forli is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Forli?
Barcelona pays 10% 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 Forli?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $658 in Forli. 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 Forli?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $205 in Forli. 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 15% 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 $2,007 in Forli versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Forli but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Forli the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Forli?
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 Forli safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Forli 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 Forli?
Expats usually find Forli gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.