Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Homs Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Homs

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,482 in Barcelona versus $479 in Homs.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in Barcelona versus $688 in Homs.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $897 in Homs.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 418% more expensive than in Homs, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Homs is 65% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Homs
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42 €15.88
$3.04 SYP 369
505.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4 €59.8
$11.86 SYP 1,441
484.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.05 €12.11
$4.59 SYP 558
206.10%
Cappuccino
$3.11 €2.68
$0.45 SYP 54.4
591.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 €2.55
$2.31 SYP 281
28.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 €1.69
$0.48 SYP 58.0
306.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.99 €3.44
$1.94 SYP 236
105.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62 €3.98
$3.04 SYP 369
51.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Homs
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 €1.14
$0.66 SYP 80.3
100.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 €1.82
$0.41 SYP 49.90
414.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$1.12 SYP 137
63.39%
Eggs
$5.16 €4.45
$1.54 SYP 188
235.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.56 €15.14
$3.33 SYP 405
427.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.50 €8.19
$3.97 SYP 483
139.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.93 €17.18
$9.74 SYP 1,184
104.62%
Apples (1kg)
$3.17 €2.73
$0.54 SYP 65.2
487.04%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 €1.91
$1.21 SYP 146
82.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 €2.25
$0.58 SYP 70.0
350.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.85 €2.46
$0.29 SYP 35.53
882.76%
Potato (1kg)
$2.17 €1.87
$0.48 SYP 57.8
352.08%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.81
$0.75 SYP 90.7
181.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 €1.39
$0.36 SYP 44.19
350.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.76
$0.43 SYP 52.7
104.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17 €6.18
$1.48 SYP 179
384.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.33 €7.18
$3.85 SYP 468
116.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.72 SYP 87.8
108.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 €2.37
$2.91 SYP 353
-5.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Homs
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.14 €2.70
$0.23 SYP 27.98
1265.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.25 €22.63
$15.22 SYP 1,850
72.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.22 €2.78
$0.98 SYP 119
228.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 €1.30
$1.48 SYP 180
2.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.26 €30.39
$2.02 SYP 245
1645.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.03 SYP 125
69.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K €31.6K
$15.0K SYP 1.8M
143.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K €27.3K
$12.9K SYP 1.6M
144.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Homs
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 €161
$98.1 SYP 11.9K
90.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10 €13.01
$6.67 SYP 811
126.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.60 €32.41
$45.36 SYP 5,512
-17.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Homs
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.5 €47.83
$10.17 SYP 1,236
445.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.74 €14.43
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.71 €10.09
$5.34 SYP 649
119.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Homs
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,011 €871
$65.8 SYP 7,990
1437.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.1K €14.7K
$982 SYP 119.3K
1638.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Homs
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4 €78.8
$4.92 SYP 597
1757.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00 €35.34
$10.05 SYP 1,221
307.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 €95.3
$59.8 SYP 7,266
84.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 €109
$30.81 SYP 3,744
309.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Homs
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,704 €1,469
$49.94 SYP 6,068
3311.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,299 €1,120
$34.35 SYP 4,174
3682.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,588 €2,231
$102 SYP 12.4K
2441.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,929 €1,663
$56.1 SYP 6,816
3339.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,732 €6,665
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,384 €4,641
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Homs
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,374 €2,046
$73.8 SYP 8,964
3118.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.16
14.25
-77.82%

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

Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026

Last update for Homs: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Barcelona and $49.94 in Homs. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 3118% 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: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $12.00 in Homs for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $121 per month, with Homs 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 Homs: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Homs?
Barcelona and Homs differ by about 418% in total monthly costs ($2,482 vs $479 including rent). Homs is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Homs?
Average pay runs 3118% higher in Barcelona, 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 in Homs?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,704 in Barcelona versus $49.94 in Homs. 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 Homs?
Childcare runs $1,011 in Barcelona versus $65.8 in Homs. 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 176% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $479 in Homs versus $2,482 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Homs but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Homs the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Homs?
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 Homs safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Homs 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 Homs?
Expats usually find Homs gentler on the wallet – expenses run 418% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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