🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $3,435 in Lancy.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $5,389 in Lancy.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $7,343 in Lancy.
🌍Living in Barcelona costs roughly 31% less than in Lancy, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Lancy158% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Lancy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$31.40CHF 25.34
-45.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$150CHF 121
-54.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$18.79CHF 15.16
-27.41%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$6.04CHF 4.87
-53.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$5.27CHF 4.25
-46.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$4.83CHF 3.89
-59.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$10.02CHF 8.08
-55.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$7.70CHF 6.21
-40.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Lancy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$2.26CHF 1.83
-43.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$3.79CHF 3.06
-43.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$4.32CHF 3.49
-53.94%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$7.53CHF 6.08
-55.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$27.07CHF 21.85
-29.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$33.79CHF 27.27
-71.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$43.35CHF 34.98
-56.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$3.53CHF 2.85
-24.93%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$2.42CHF 1.95
-2.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$2.97CHF 2.40
-29.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$6.25CHF 5.05
-56.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$2.69CHF 2.17
-27.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$2.36CHF 1.90
-23.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$2.56CHF 2.07
-41.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$1.32CHF 1.06
-32.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$11.23CHF 9.07
-39.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$12.10CHF 9.76
-34.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$2.33CHF 1.88
-41.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$3.14CHF 2.53
-23.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Lancy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$4.01CHF 3.24
-27.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$99.6CHF 80.4
-71.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$7.52CHF 6.07
-39.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$3.67CHF 2.96
-44.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$65.2CHF 52.6
-55.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$2.13CHF 1.72
-14.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$40.5KCHF 32.7K
-2.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$45.1KCHF 36.4K
-28.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Lancy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$260CHF 210
-28.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$47.84CHF 38.61
-53.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$59.5CHF 48.01
-38.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Lancy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$89.4CHF 72.1
-35.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
$49.12CHF 39.64
-57.78%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$22.47CHF 18.13
-52.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Lancy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$2,568CHF 2,072
-71.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$33.4KCHF 26.9K
-54.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Lancy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$132CHF 107
-33.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$80.0CHF 64.5
-53.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$162CHF 130
-36.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$214CHF 173
-44.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Lancy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$1,692CHF 1,365
-9.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$1,476CHF 1,191
-16.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$2,826CHF 2,280
-3.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$2,462CHF 1,987
-19.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$16.7KCHF 13.5K
-55.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$14.0KCHF 11.3K
-62.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Lancy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
2.46
37.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Lancy: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $1,692 in Lancy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $150 in Lancy for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $644 per month, with Barcelona 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 Lancy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Lancy?
Barcelona and Lancy differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $3,435 including rent). Barcelona 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 Lancy?
You'd need roughly $3,539 in Barcelona and $5,153 in Lancy 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 in Lancy?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $1,692 in Lancy. 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 Lancy?
Childcare runs $725 in Barcelona versus $2,568 in Lancy. 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 102% higher in Lancy. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,359 in Barcelona versus $3,435 in Lancy, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Lancy. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Lancy?
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 Lancy safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Lancy 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 Lancy?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Lancy. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.