😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,482 in Barcelona versus $2,375 in Jackson, MS.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in Barcelona versus $3,446 in Jackson, MS.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $4,517 in Jackson, MS.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 5% more expensive than in Jackson, MS, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona80% above, Jackson, MS72% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Jackson, MS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42€15.88
$17.75$17.75
3.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4€59.8
$60.9$60.9
13.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.05€12.11
$9.41$9.41
49.31%
Cappuccino
$3.11€2.68
$4.22$4.22
-26.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.55
$1.65$1.65
79.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.69
$1.64$1.64
18.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.99€3.44
$3.96$3.96
0.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€3.98
$3.90$3.90
18.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Jackson, MS
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.14
$0.97$0.97
36.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.82
$2.97$2.97
-28.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$4.12$4.12
-55.58%
Eggs
$5.16€4.45
$3.36$3.36
53.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.56€15.14
$8.12$8.12
116.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.50€8.19
$11.08$11.08
-14.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.93€17.18
$7.20$7.20
176.81%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.73
$4.59$4.59
-30.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.91
$1.08$1.08
104.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61€2.25
$1.52$1.52
71.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$4.76$4.76
-40.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$3.26$3.26
-33.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.81
$2.01$2.01
4.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62€1.39
$1.48$1.48
9.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$2.41$2.41
-63.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17€6.18
$8.16$8.16
-12.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.33€7.18
$13.59$13.59
-38.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.75$1.75
-14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75€2.37
$1.60$1.60
71.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Jackson, MS
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.14€2.70
$3.89$3.89
-19.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.25€22.63
$124$124
-78.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22€2.78
$1.98$1.98
62.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.30
$1.40$1.40
7.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.26€30.39
$19.04$19.04
85.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.51
$0.91$0.91
92.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.6K
$35.2K$35.2K
4.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K€27.3K
$27.3K$27.3K
16.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Jackson, MS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€161
$174$174
7.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10€13.01
$71.5$71.5
-78.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.60€32.41
$74.1$74.1
-49.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Jackson, MS
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5€47.83
$65.0$65.0
-14.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.74€14.43
$15.86$15.86
5.55%
Cinema Ticket
$11.71€10.09
$12.77$12.77
-8.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Jackson, MS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,011€871
$589$589
71.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.1K€14.7K
$26.8K$26.8K
-36.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Jackson, MS
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4€78.8
$43.82$43.82
108.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00€35.34
$22.19$22.19
84.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€95.3
$76.0$76.0
45.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126€109
$114$114
10.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Jackson, MS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,704€1,469
$975$975
74.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,299€1,120
$1,162$1,162
11.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,588€2,231
$2,259$2,259
14.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,929€1,663
$1,859$1,859
3.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,732€6,665
$1,579$1,579
389.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,384€4,641
$1,560$1,560
245.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Jackson, MS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,374€2,046
$2,787$2,787
-14.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
6.06
-47.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Last update for Jackson, MS: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Barcelona and $975 in Jackson, MS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jackson, MS pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $61.0 in Jackson, MS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $318 per month, with Jackson, MS 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 Jackson, MS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Jackson, MS?
Barcelona and Jackson, MS differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($2,482 vs $2,375 including rent). Jackson, MS is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Jackson, MS. 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 Jackson, MS?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,704 in Barcelona versus $975 in Jackson, MS. 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 Jackson, MS?
Childcare runs $1,011 in Barcelona versus $589 in Jackson, MS. 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 5% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,375 in Jackson, MS versus $2,482 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Jackson, MS but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Jackson, MS the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Jackson, MS?
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 Jackson, MS safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Jackson, MS 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 Jackson, MS?
Expats usually find Jackson, MS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.