๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,356 in Barcelona versus $3,108 in Lewisham.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,455 in Barcelona versus $5,066 in Lewisham.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,553 in Barcelona versus $7,024 in Lewisham.
๐Living in Barcelona costs roughly 24% less than in Lewisham, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona75% above, Lewisham131% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Barcelona
Lewisham
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.64โฌ15.01
$20.61ยฃ15.27
-14.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1โฌ58.0
$82.0ยฃ60.8
-16.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.96โฌ11.88
$9.86ยฃ7.31
41.58%
Cappuccino
$2.76โฌ2.35
$4.79ยฃ3.55
-42.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76โฌ2.35
$2.09ยฃ1.55
32.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97โฌ1.67
$1.85ยฃ1.37
6.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.53โฌ3.85
$8.99ยฃ6.66
-49.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53โฌ3.85
$8.68ยฃ6.43
-47.81%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Lewisham
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24โฌ1.05
$2.20ยฃ1.63
-43.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04โฌ1.73
$2.56ยฃ1.90
-20.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91โฌ1.63
$3.17ยฃ2.35
-39.75%
Eggs
$3.39โฌ2.89
$5.87ยฃ4.35
-42.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.34โฌ15.60
$6.87ยฃ5.09
166.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.39โฌ7.99
$7.77ยฃ5.76
20.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.90โฌ16.08
$12.39ยฃ9.18
52.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63โฌ2.23
$4.82ยฃ3.57
-45.44%
Banana(1kg)
$2.40โฌ2.04
$1.64ยฃ1.22
46.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12โฌ1.80
$2.90ยฃ2.15
-26.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.70โฌ2.30
$4.20ยฃ3.11
-35.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05โฌ1.75
$1.70ยฃ1.26
20.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78โฌ1.52
$2.67ยฃ1.98
-33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47โฌ1.25
$0.92ยฃ0.68
59.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91โฌ0.77
$1.53ยฃ1.13
-40.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01โฌ5.97
$26.24ยฃ19.45
-73.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.59โฌ6.46
$19.49ยฃ14.44
-61.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44โฌ1.22
$2.40ยฃ1.78
-40.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32โฌ1.97
$1.95ยฃ1.44
18.97%
๐ Getting Around
Barcelona
Lewisham
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94โฌ2.50
$6.05ยฃ4.48
-51.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.38โฌ25.00
$87.8ยฃ65.1
-66.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.53โฌ3.85
$5.74ยฃ4.26
-21.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14โฌ1.82
$2.13ยฃ1.58
0.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.97โฌ24.65
$23.28ยฃ17.25
24.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89โฌ1.61
$2.17ยฃ1.61
-12.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0Kโฌ33.2K
$38.2Kยฃ28.3K
2.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4Kโฌ27.6K
$40.4Kยฃ29.9K
-19.61%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Lewisham
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189โฌ161
$411ยฃ304
-54.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.24โฌ18.92
$17.26ยฃ12.79
28.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.57โฌ31.12
$39.24ยฃ29.07
-6.80%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Lewisham
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0โฌ49.38
$45.41ยฃ33.65
27.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.30โฌ18.13
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.01โฌ9.37
$20.31ยฃ15.05
-45.79%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Lewisham
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$731โฌ622
$1,617ยฃ1,198
-54.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kโฌ12.6K
$18.2Kยฃ13.5K
-18.59%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Lewisham
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3โฌ76.0
$160ยฃ118
-44.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38โฌ31.81
$61.5ยฃ45.57
-39.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105โฌ89.0
$147ยฃ109
-28.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116โฌ99.0
$170ยฃ126
-31.43%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Lewisham
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,551โฌ1,320
$2,143ยฃ1,588
-27.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,216โฌ1,035
$1,570ยฃ1,163
-22.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,799โฌ2,382
$2,046ยฃ1,516
36.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008โฌ1,709
$3,618ยฃ2,681
-44.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,161โฌ6,094
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,021โฌ4,273
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Lewisham
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,462โฌ2,095
$4,037ยฃ2,991
-39.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.93
-51.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 13, 2026
Last update for Lewisham: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,551 in Barcelona and $2,143 in Lewisham. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐLewisham pays 64% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $68 in Barcelona vs $82 in Lewisham for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $334 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 Lewisham: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Lewisham?
Barcelona and Lewisham differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($2,356 vs $3,108 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lewisham earns 64% less. 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 Lewisham?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,551 in Barcelona versus $2,143 in Lewisham. 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 Lewisham?
Childcare runs $731 in Barcelona versus $1,617 in Lewisham. 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 6% higher in Lewisham. 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 $2,356 in Barcelona versus $3,108 in Lewisham, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Lewisham. 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 Lewisham?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Lewisham safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Lewisham 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 Lewisham?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 32% less than in Lewisham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.