Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Hilo, HI

For one person, living is cheaper in Barcelona: $2,443 a month against $2,865 in Hilo, HI, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. The total is higher in Hilo, HI despite lower rent and utilities.

Barcelona, Spain
Hilo, HI, United States
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,443
/mo nomad
Hilo, HI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,865
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barcelona and in Hilo, HI

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 Hilo, HI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,443 in Barcelona versus $2,865 in Hilo, HI.

  • Barcelona $2,443
  • Hilo, HI $2,865

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,519 in Barcelona versus $4,388 in Hilo, HI.

  • Barcelona $3,519
  • Hilo, HI $4,388

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,595 in Barcelona versus $5,910 in Hilo, HI.

  • Barcelona $4,595
  • Hilo, HI $5,910

Living in Barcelona costs roughly 15% less than in Hilo, HI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 81% above, Hilo, HI 112% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Hilo, HI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 €15.75
$20.77 $20.77
-14.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.2
$79.9 $79.9
-15.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.61 €12.14
$12.17 $12.17
11.83%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.77
$5.63 $5.63
-44.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 €2.68
$2.90 $2.90
3.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 €1.72
$2.42 $2.42
-20.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.84 €3.43
$6.32 $6.32
-39.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 €3.89
$7.57 $7.57
-42.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Hilo, HI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 €1.11
$1.75 $1.75
-28.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.12 €1.90
$10.08 $10.08
-78.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 €1.76
$4.28 $4.28
-53.97%
Eggs
$4.76 €4.25
$7.07 $7.07
-32.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.07 €15.22
$19.98 $19.98
-14.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.96 €7.99
$17.57 $17.57
-49.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.65 €18.42
$30.15 $30.15
-31.51%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 €2.82
$8.57 $8.57
-63.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$2.39 $2.39
-17.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 €2.37
$10.48 $10.48
-74.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.88 €2.57
$12.21 $12.21
-76.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 €1.84
$9.04 $9.04
-77.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 €1.95
$7.81 $7.81
-72.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.53 €1.37
$5.36 $5.36
-71.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 €0.87
$3.02 $3.02
-67.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.97 €6.21
$11.90 $11.90
-41.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 €7.04
$22.03 $22.03
-64.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 €1.26
$1.76 $1.76
-19.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 €2.40
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Hilo, HI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.31 €2.95
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.61 €22.84
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 €2.75
$2.95 $2.95
4.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 €1.32
$2.00 $2.00
-26.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.87 €29.32
$23.57 $23.57
39.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 €1.66
$1.41 $1.41
32.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K €29.4K
$25.5K $25.5K
29.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K €28.5K
$26.0K $26.0K
22.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Hilo, HI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 €163
$302 $302
-39.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.24 €12.70
$67.7 $67.7
-78.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.56 €30.83
$125 $125
-72.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Hilo, HI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.4 €45.87
$37.04 $37.04
38.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.38 €14.62
$25.30 $25.30
-35.26%
Cinema Ticket
$11.06 €9.87
$13.24 $13.24
-16.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Hilo, HI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$944 €842
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.3K €19.9K
$11.8K $11.8K
88.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Hilo, HI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7 €78.2
$36.77 $36.77
138.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.77 €34.59
$29.88 $29.88
29.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.3
$66.8 $66.8
56.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 €105
$83.9 $83.9
40.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Hilo, HI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,697 €1,514
$1,463 $1,463
16.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 €1,192
$1,142 $1,142
17.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,692 €2,401
$2,574 $2,574
4.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,077 €1,853
$2,199 $2,199
-5.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,155 €6,382
$5,600 $5,600
27.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,079 €4,530
$4,662 $4,662
8.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Hilo, HI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,241 €1,999
$3,795 $3,795
-40.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.19
6.62
-51.81%

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

Last update for Barcelona: November 2, 2026

Last update for Hilo, HI: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
$1.3K
Hilo, HI
$1.1K 14.6% $195
Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
$328
Hilo, HI
$715 * 118% $388
Eating Out
Barcelona
$267
Hilo, HI
$338 26.7% $71
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
$232
Hilo, HI
$495 114% $263
Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
$157
Hilo, HI
$98 37.7% $59
Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
$74
Hilo, HI
$64 13.6% $10
Getting Around
Barcelona
$49
Hilo, HI
$13 * 73.7% $36

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,697 in Barcelona and $1,463 in Hilo, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hilo, HI pays 69% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $67 in Barcelona vs $80 in Hilo, HI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $328 vs $715 per month, with Barcelona cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🇺🇸 Hilo, HI
🕒 Local time
12:29 12:29 PM
01:29 1:29 AM
11 h behind Barcelona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,660,122
44,186
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barcelona Hilo, HI 12,830 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Barcelona
  • Hilo, HI

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 Hilo, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Hilo, HI?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,443 in Barcelona and $2,865 in Hilo, HI, so Barcelona is about 15% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 41% lower in Barcelona. 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 in Hilo, HI?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,697 in Barcelona versus $1,463 in Hilo, HI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Barcelona – a meal for two runs $67 versus $80 in Hilo, HI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Barcelona or Hilo, HI?
All in, you’ll spend $2,443 per month in Barcelona versus $2,865 in Hilo, HI – Barcelona is about 15% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Hilo, HI?
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 Hilo, HI safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Hilo, HI are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Barcelona and Hilo, HI?
It comes down to priorities – Barcelona wins on affordability, Hilo, HI on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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