😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $887 in Hamra.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $1,424 in Hamra.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $1,961 in Hamra.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 171% more expensive than Hamra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Hamra is 33% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68€15.22
$10.93LBP 978.6K
61.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€60.3
$59.2LBP 5.3M
18.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.76
$7.83LBP 700.7K
74.46%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.36
$3.42LBP 305.8K
-19.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$1.63LBP 146.2K
71.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$0.92LBP 82.3K
113.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$3.43LBP 306.9K
27.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.94
$4.93LBP 441.0K
-7.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.73LBP 154.7K
-25.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$0.81LBP 72.2K
153.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$1.81LBP 162.4K
9.39%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$3.08LBP 276.0K
10.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.64€16.05
$11.50LBP 1.0M
62.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56€8.23
$9.43LBP 843.6K
1.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83€16.22
$11.30LBP 1.0M
66.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$1.72LBP 154.3K
59.88%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$1.51LBP 135.4K
63.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.80
$1.14LBP 102.5K
84.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$1.05LBP 94.0K
168.57%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.74
$0.98LBP 88.0K
106.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$1.04LBP 93.5K
77.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.30
$0.87LBP 78.0K
73.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.56LBP 50.4K
60.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06€6.08
$2.56LBP 229.2K
175.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98€6.87
$9.91LBP 886.5K
-19.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.23
$1.28LBP 114.4K
11.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.97
$2.13LBP 190.4K
7.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.48
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.45
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.77
$4.98LBP 445.5K
-12.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.84
$1.27LBP 113.9K
68.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15€25.10
$20.22LBP 1.8M
44.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.61
$0.91LBP 81.3K
104.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$35.5KLBP 3.2B
9.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$28.0KLBP 2.5B
16.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$212LBP 19.0M
-10.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71€19.56
$37.43LBP 3.3M
-39.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51€31.43
$37.40LBP 3.3M
-2.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€49.59
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37€18.40
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.31
$8.05LBP 720.1K
34.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€625
$302LBP 27.0M
140.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K€13.0K
$4,412LBP 394.9M
242.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€75.5
$70.3LBP 6.3M
24.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89€31.77
$45.08LBP 4.0M
-18.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.2
$123LBP 11.0M
-15.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$94.1LBP 8.4M
23.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,355
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,711€2,335
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,966€1,693
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,811€6,726
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,267€4,535
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,375€2,045
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
11.16
-69.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 14, 2026
Last update for Hamra: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $59.0 in Hamra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $234 per month, with Hamra 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 Hamra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Hamra?
Barcelona and Hamra differ by about 171% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $887 including rent). Hamra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Hamra?
You'd need roughly $3,599 in Barcelona and $1,330 in Hamra to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Hamra?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $302 in Hamra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Hamra – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $70.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $887 in Hamra versus $2,399 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hamra but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Hamra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Hamra?
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 Hamra safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Hamra 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 Hamra?
Expats usually find Hamra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 171% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.