Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Hamm

For one person, living is cheaper in Hamm: $1,475 a month against $2,453 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $11,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Barcelona outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Barcelona, Spain
Hamm, Germany
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,453
/mo nomad
Hamm
🇩🇪 Germany
$1,475
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barcelona and in Hamm

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Barcelona and in Hamm actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,453 in Barcelona versus $1,475 in Hamm.

  • Barcelona $2,453
  • Hamm $1,475

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,509 in Barcelona versus $2,214 in Hamm.

  • Barcelona $3,509
  • Hamm $2,214

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,564 in Barcelona versus $2,954 in Hamm.

  • Barcelona $4,564
  • Hamm $2,954

Living in Barcelona is roughly 66% more expensive than in Hamm, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 80% above, Hamm 8% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Hamm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.75
$13.36 €11.96
31.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.5
$67.1 €60.1
0.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.53 €12.12
$17.82 €15.96
-24.07%
Cappuccino
$3.19 €2.86
$4.35 €3.89
-26.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.61
$2.71 €2.42
7.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 €1.70
$2.38 €2.13
-20.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.01 €3.59
$2.77 €2.48
44.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €4.06
$4.01 €3.59
12.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Hamm
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 €1.17
$1.25 €1.12
4.80%
White Bread (500g)
$2.02 €1.81
$2.02 €1.81
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 €1.66
$3.80 €3.40
-51.32%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.33
$3.39 €3.03
42.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.74 €14.99
$14.53 €13.01
15.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.12 €8.17
$10.39 €9.31
-12.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.64 €17.59
$24.98 €22.37
-21.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 €2.67
$3.42 €3.06
-12.87%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 €1.81
$2.24 €2.01
-9.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 €2.42
$2.30 €2.06
17.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.80 €2.51
$4.15 €3.71
-32.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 €1.87
$1.46 €1.31
43.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.85
$1.20 €1.08
72.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 €1.31
$1.79 €1.60
-18.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.84
$1.06 €0.95
-11.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.87 €6.15
$8.95 €8.02
-23.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 €7.06
$6.55 €5.87
20.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 €1.26
$1.07 €0.96
31.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 €2.27
$1.40 €1.25
81.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Hamm
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.14 €2.82
$3.20 €2.87
-1.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.45 €22.79
$61.3 €54.9
-58.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 €2.68
$5.05 €4.52
-40.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 €1.34
$2.22 €1.99
-32.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.37 €29.89
$33.01 €29.56
1.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 €1.61
$2.15 €1.93
-16.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K €29.7K
$32.2K €28.9K
3.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K €28.4K
$37.3K €33.4K
-15.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Hamm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 €162
$465 €416
-61.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.84 €12.39
$25.78 €23.08
-46.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.70 €30.18
$40.16 €35.96
-16.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Hamm
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.5 €46.13
$28.47 €25.50
80.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.96 €14.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.99 €9.85
$13.25 €11.86
-17.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Hamm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$917 €821
$169 €151
442.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.8K
$25.7K €23.0K
-35.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Hamm
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.0 €77.9
$97.9 €87.6
-11.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51 €34.49
$48.25 €43.21
-20.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 €94.8
$111 €99.2
-4.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €107
$197 €177
-39.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Hamm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,699 €1,522
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,355 €1,214
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,603 €2,331
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 €1,847
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,915 €6,193
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,128 €4,592
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Hamm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,211 €1,980
$2,082 €1,865
6.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.28
3.96
-17.17%

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

Last update for Barcelona: October 25, 2026

Last update for Hamm: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
$1.4K
Hamm
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
$322
Hamm
$340 5.7% $18
Eating Out
Barcelona
$268
Hamm
$255 4.9% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
$228
Hamm
$531 133% $303
Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
$158
Hamm
$204 29.4% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
$74
Hamm
$55 25.2% $19
Getting Around
Barcelona
$48
Hamm
$90 86.1% $42

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Barcelona pays 6% 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: $67 in Barcelona vs $67 in Hamm for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $322 vs $340 per month, with Barcelona cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🇩🇪 Hamm
🕒 Local time
21:34 9:34 PM
21:34 9:34 PM
Same time as Barcelona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,660,122
180,000
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barcelona Hamm 1,220 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Barcelona
  • Hamm

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Hamm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Hamm?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,453 in Barcelona and $1,475 in Hamm, so Hamm is about 40% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Hamm?
Average pay runs 6% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Hamm?
Childcare runs $917 in Barcelona versus $169 in Hamm. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do commuting costs compare in Barcelona and in Hamm?
A monthly transit pass in Barcelona runs roughly 58% less than in Hamm. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,475 in Hamm versus $2,453 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hamm but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Hamm the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Hamm?
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 Hamm safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Hamm are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Barcelona and Hamm?
It comes down to priorities – Hamm wins on affordability, Barcelona on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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