Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Kicevo

For one person, living is cheaper in Kicevo: $880 a month against $2,453 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $18,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Barcelona, Spain
Kicevo, North Macedonia
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,453
/mo nomad
Kicevo
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
$880
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barcelona and in Kicevo

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,453 in Barcelona versus $880 in Kicevo.

  • Barcelona $2,453
  • Kicevo $880

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,509 in Barcelona versus $1,300 in Kicevo.

  • Barcelona $3,509
  • Kicevo $1,300

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,564 in Barcelona versus $1,720 in Kicevo.

  • Barcelona $4,564
  • Kicevo $1,720

Living in Barcelona is roughly 179% more expensive than in Kicevo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Kicevo is 35% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Kicevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.71
$3.95 MKD 216
345.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.3
$18.18 MKD 994
271.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.53 €12.08
$4.42 MKD 242
206.11%
Cappuccino
$3.19 €2.85
$1.12 MKD 61.1
184.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.60
$1.37 MKD 75.0
112.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 €1.69
$0.77 MKD 41.83
145.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.01 €3.58
$2.22 MKD 121
80.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €4.05
$2.16 MKD 118
109.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Kicevo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 €1.17
$1.29 MKD 70.7
1.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.02 €1.80
$0.57 MKD 30.98
254.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 €1.65
$1.81 MKD 99.2
2.21%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.32
$2.33 MKD 127
107.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.74 €14.95
$7.19 MKD 393
132.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.12 €8.14
$7.36 MKD 402
23.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.64 €17.54
$15.01 MKD 821
30.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 €2.66
$1.49 MKD 81.2
100.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 €1.80
$1.45 MKD 79.1
39.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 €2.41
$1.38 MKD 75.3
95.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.80 €2.50
$1.97 MKD 108
42.13%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 €1.86
$0.84 MKD 45.68
148.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.85
$0.83 MKD 45.61
149.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 €1.30
$0.63 MKD 34.67
131.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.84
$0.35 MKD 18.89
168.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.87 €6.14
$2.95 MKD 161
132.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 €7.04
$5.56 MKD 304
41.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 €1.26
$1.02 MKD 55.6
38.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 €2.26
$1.48 MKD 80.8
71.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Kicevo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.14 €2.81
$0.75 MKD 40.98
318.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.45 €22.73
$22.20 MKD 1,214
14.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 €2.67
$1.12 MKD 61.3
166.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 €1.33
$0.60 MKD 33.06
148.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.37 €29.81
$7.37 MKD 403
352.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 €1.61
$1.38 MKD 75.3
30.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K €29.6K
$34.2K MKD 1.9M
-2.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K €28.3K
$26.3K MKD 1.4M
20.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Kicevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 €161
$157 MKD 8,588
14.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.84 €12.36
$18.24 MKD 997
-24.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.70 €30.10
$19.31 MKD 1,056
74.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Kicevo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.5 €46.01
$23.14 MKD 1,265
122.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.96 €14.26
$15.46 MKD 845
3.23%
Cinema Ticket
$10.99 €9.82
$7.42 MKD 406
48.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Kicevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$917 €819
$372 MKD 20.4K
146.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.7K
$5,695 MKD 311.4K
189.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Kicevo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.0 €77.7
$85.7 MKD 4,686
1.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51 €34.39
$36.26 MKD 1,983
6.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 €94.5
$103 MKD 5,646
2.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €107
$111 MKD 6,083
7.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Kicevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,699 €1,518
$236 MKD 12.9K
619.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,355 €1,211
$184 MKD 10.1K
635.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,603 €2,325
$453 MKD 24.8K
474.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 €1,842
$293 MKD 16.0K
604.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,915 €6,176
$1,547 MKD 84.6K
346.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,128 €4,580
$1,145 MKD 62.6K
347.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Kicevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,211 €1,975
$570 MKD 31.2K
287.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.28
4.23
-22.46%

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

Last update for Barcelona: October 25, 2026

Last update for Kicevo: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
$1.4K
Kicevo
$184 86.4% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
$322
Kicevo
$200 37.8% $122
Eating Out
Barcelona
$268
Kicevo
$82 69.3% $186
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
$228
Kicevo
$195 14.6% $33
Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
$158
Kicevo
$151 4.2% $6.6
Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
$74
Kicevo
$38 48.3% $36
Getting Around
Barcelona
$48
Kicevo
$29 39.5% $19

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,699 in Barcelona and $236 in Kicevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays about 3.9 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $67 in Barcelona vs $18 in Kicevo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $322 vs $200 per month, with Kicevo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🇲🇰 Kicevo
🕒 Local time
04:08 4:08 AM
04:08 4:08 AM
Same time as Barcelona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,660,122
31,000
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

MKD, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 0.893 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

North Macedonian Denar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 54.68 MKD (100 MKD = 1.83 USD). 1 EUR = 61.29 MKD (100 MKD = 1.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barcelona Kicevo 1,560 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Barcelona
  • Kicevo

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 Kicevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Kicevo?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,453 in Barcelona and $880 in Kicevo, so Kicevo is about 64% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Kicevo?
Average pay in Barcelona is about 3.9 times higher, 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 Kicevo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,699 in Barcelona versus $236 in Kicevo. 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 Kicevo?
Childcare runs $917 in Barcelona versus $372 in Kicevo. 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 61% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $880 in Kicevo versus $2,453 in Barcelona, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Kicevo but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Kicevo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Kicevo?
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 Kicevo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Kicevo are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Kicevo?
Expats usually find Kicevo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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