😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,957 in Fredericton.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $2,944 in Fredericton.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $3,931 in Fredericton.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 21% more expensive than Fredericton, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Fredericton46% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Fredericton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$14.75CA$20.43
19.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$55.4CA$76.7
23.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$10.83CA$14.99
29.82%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$3.93CA$5.44
-29.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$2.59CA$3.59
8.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$2.05CA$2.84
0.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$5.02CA$6.94
-11.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$5.43CA$7.51
-15.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Fredericton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.89CA$2.61
-34.39%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$2.94CA$4.07
-30.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.97CA$4.11
-35.35%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$3.65CA$5.06
-9.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$11.68CA$16.17
57.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$9.45CA$13.08
0.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$8.77CA$12.14
118.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$4.90CA$6.79
-46.12%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.61CA$2.22
52.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$3.97CA$5.50
-46.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$5.39CA$7.47
-47.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.87CA$2.59
9.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$1.62CA$2.25
14.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$2.52CA$3.49
-41.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.58CA$2.19
-46.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$11.96CA$16.56
-40.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$12.46CA$17.25
-36.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$3.28CA$4.55
-57.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$4.83CA$6.69
-52.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Fredericton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$2.26CA$3.13
31.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
$59.9CA$83.0
-51.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$6.04CA$8.36
-23.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$1.70CA$2.35
21.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$43.45CA$60.2
-32.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.25CA$1.74
47.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$24.6KCA$34.1K
58.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$20.2KCA$28.0K
61.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Fredericton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$133CA$183
41.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$56.4CA$78.1
-59.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$78.6CA$109
-53.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Fredericton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$41.17CA$57.0
39.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
$26.90CA$37.25
-23.05%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$11.09CA$15.35
0.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Fredericton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$611CA$846
17.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$1,786CA$2,473
742.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Fredericton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$51.8CA$71.7
66.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$40.90CA$56.6
-9.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$82.8CA$115
23.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$86.0CA$119
34.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Fredericton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$1,086CA$1,503
41.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$809CA$1,120
50.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$1,783CA$2,469
51.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$1,508CA$2,088
33.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
$1,945CA$2,693
271.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
$1,950CA$2,701
166.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Fredericton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
$2,426CA$3,359
-2.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.44
-47.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Fredericton: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $1,086 in Fredericton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fredericton pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $55.0 in Fredericton. Groceries flip the comparison at $318 vs $349, 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 Fredericton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Fredericton?
Barcelona and Fredericton differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,957 including rent). Fredericton is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Fredericton earns 3% 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 Fredericton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $1,086 in Fredericton. 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 Fredericton?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $611 in Fredericton. 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 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,957 in Fredericton versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Fredericton but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Fredericton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Fredericton?
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 Fredericton safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Fredericton 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 Fredericton?
Expats usually find Fredericton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.