😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $893 in Hamra.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $1,403 in Hamra.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $1,913 in Hamra.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 164% more expensive than in Hamra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Hamra is 33% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$10.80LBP 966.9K
58.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$60.0LBP 5.4M
13.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$7.81LBP 698.8K
74.65%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$3.31LBP 296.3K
-16.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$1.58LBP 141.1K
78.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.94LBP 84.4K
108.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$3.56LBP 318.7K
24.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$5.04LBP 451.2K
-8.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$1.76LBP 157.8K
-27.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$0.85LBP 76.0K
150.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$1.77LBP 158.0K
12.43%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$3.22LBP 288.2K
4.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$11.11LBP 994.0K
70.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$9.57LBP 856.4K
-0.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$11.46LBP 1.0M
63.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$1.79LBP 159.8K
48.04%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$1.51LBP 135.2K
55.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.14LBP 102.2K
83.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$1.04LBP 93.0K
162.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$1.01LBP 90.4K
94.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.04LBP 93.1K
74.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$0.89LBP 79.3K
69.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.56LBP 50.1K
58.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$2.45LBP 219.2K
176.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$9.86LBP 882.8K
-19.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.24LBP 111.3K
10.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$2.13LBP 190.4K
12.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$4.97LBP 444.8K
-7.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$1.21LBP 108.6K
68.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$20.02LBP 1.8M
43.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$0.90LBP 80.3K
102.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$34.5KLBP 3.1B
14.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$28.0KLBP 2.5B
16.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$219LBP 19.6M
-14.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$37.60LBP 3.4M
-40.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$37.17LBP 3.3M
-2.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$7.88LBP 705.4K
36.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$308LBP 27.6M
135.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$4,427LBP 396.3M
242.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$69.8LBP 6.2M
25.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$44.83LBP 4.0M
-17.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$123LBP 11.0M
-16.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$92.6LBP 8.3M
28.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Hamra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Hamra: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $60.0 in Hamra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $235 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 in Hamra?
Barcelona and Hamra differ by about 164% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $893 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 $3,539 in Barcelona and $1,339 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 $725 in Barcelona versus $308 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 $60.0 versus $68.0 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 $893 in Hamra versus $2,359 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 164% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.