😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,066 in Ishim.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,620 in Ishim.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $2,175 in Ishim.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 122% more expensive than Ishim, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Ishim is 20% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Ishim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$9.96₽727
76.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$35.56₽2,595
92.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$8.73₽638
61.05%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$2.66₽194
4.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$0.99₽72.4
182.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.58₽42.50
255.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$1.10₽80.1
305.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$1.86₽136
147.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Ishim
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.10₽80.2
12.73%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$0.63₽45.65
222.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.26₽91.9
52.38%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$1.67₽122
98.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$10.64₽777
73.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$4.16₽304
128.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$12.22₽892
56.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$1.63₽119
61.96%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.82₽133
34.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$1.71₽125
23.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$2.29₽167
24.45%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.95₽69.6
114.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$0.67₽48.58
176.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$1.06₽77.7
38.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.74₽54.0
13.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$2.92₽213
144.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$7.82₽571
0.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.02₽74.5
35.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$1.24₽90.8
86.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Ishim
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$0.53₽39.01
462.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$2.92₽213
57.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$0.22₽16.05
840.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$6.18₽451
372.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$0.76₽55.5
142.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$25.4K₽1.9M
53.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$23.2K₽1.7M
41.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Ishim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$157₽11.4K
19.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$5.02₽367
356.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$10.38₽758
253.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Ishim
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$35.17₽2,567
63.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$4.46₽325
150.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Ishim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$177₽12.9K
308.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$8,362₽610.4K
79.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Ishim
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$97.2₽7,095
-11.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$45.48₽3,319
-18.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$151₽11.0K
-32.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$162₽11.8K
-28.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Ishim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$447₽32.6K
243.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$309₽22.6K
294.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$751₽54.8K
258.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$513₽37.4K
292.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
$2,461₽179.7K
193.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
$1,796₽131.1K
188.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Ishim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
22.38
-84.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ishim: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $447 in Ishim. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $36.00 in Ishim for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $196 per month, with Ishim 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 Ishim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Ishim?
Barcelona and Ishim differ by about 122% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,066 including rent). Ishim 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 Ishim?
You'd need roughly $3,550 in Barcelona and $1,598 in Ishim 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Ishim?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $447 in Ishim. 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 Ishim?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $177 in Ishim. 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 Ishim – a meal for two runs $36.00 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 $1,500 per month?
At $1,066 in Ishim versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ishim but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Ishim the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Ishim?
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 Ishim safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Ishim 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 Ishim?
Expats usually find Ishim gentler on the wallet – expenses run 122% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.