Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Girona Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Girona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,862 in Girona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $2,719 in Girona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $3,577 in Girona.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 27% more expensive than Girona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 77% above, Girona 39% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Girona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58 €15.12
$16.95 €14.58
3.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4 €58.9
$68.5 €58.9
-0.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.06 €12.09
$9.28 €7.98
51.51%
Cappuccino
$2.78 €2.39
$2.19 €1.88
26.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 €2.41
$1.76 €1.51
59.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.71 €1.47
20.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.46 €3.84
$3.45 €2.97
29.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 €3.96
$4.66 €4.01
-1.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Girona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.07
$1.23 €1.06
0.81%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 €1.74
$1.38 €1.19
47.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 €1.65
$1.67 €1.44
14.97%
Eggs
$3.31 €2.85
$2.93 €2.52
12.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.43 €15.85
$10.61 €9.12
73.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.49 €8.16
$8.94 €7.69
6.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.16 €16.48
$8.91 €7.66
115.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.64 €2.27
$2.36 €2.03
11.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.45 €2.11
$2.16 €1.85
13.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 €1.82
$2.03 €1.74
4.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.85 €2.45
$2.86 €2.46
-0.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$1.40 €1.21
45.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 €1.59
$1.41 €1.21
31.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.26
$1.03 €0.88
42.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$0.70 €0.60
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14 €6.14
$5.96 €5.13
19.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.88 €6.78
$7.79 €6.70
1.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.19
$1.30 €1.12
6.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 €1.99
$2.02 €1.74
14.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Girona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.98 €2.56
$1.66 €1.43
79.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.26 €25.17
$39.06 €33.60
-25.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.60 €3.95
$2.25 €1.94
104.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.07 €1.78
$2.10 €1.81
-1.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.18 €25.10
$23.00 €19.78
26.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.84 €1.58
$1.75 €1.51
5.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K €33.6K
$37.2K €32.0K
4.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K €28.1K
$32.1K €27.7K
1.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Girona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 €162
$121 €104
55.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93 €19.73
$20.24 €17.41
13.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71 €31.58
$37.94 €32.64
-3.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Girona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.4 €49.35
$56.3 €48.39
1.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70 €17.80
$18.30 €15.74
13.11%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19 €9.63
$10.87 €9.35
2.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Girona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$721 €620
$334 €287
115.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K €12.9K
$9,860 €8,482
52.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Girona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2 €74.2
$93.0 €80.0
-7.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07 €31.89
$33.79 €29.06
9.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.8
$90.5 €77.8
12.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 €99.7
$136 €117
-14.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Girona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,534 €1,319
$1,351 €1,162
13.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,220 €1,050
$877 €755
39.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,696 €2,319
$2,163 €1,861
24.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,732
$1,389 €1,195
44.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,220 €6,211
$5,464 €4,700
32.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,189 €4,463
$3,216 €2,767
61.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Girona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,359 €2,029
$1,973 €1,697
19.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
3.58
-5.31%

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

Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026

Last update for Girona: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $1,351 in Girona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 20% 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 $69.0 in Girona. Groceries flip the comparison at $318 vs $241, with Girona 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 Girona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Girona?
Barcelona and Girona differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,862 including rent). Girona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Girona?
Barcelona pays 20% 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 Girona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $1,351 in Girona. 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 Girona?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $334 in Girona. 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 32% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,862 in Girona versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Girona but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Girona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Girona?
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 Girona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Girona 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 Girona?
Expats usually find Girona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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