😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,356 in Barcelona versus $2,223 in Lisburn.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,455 in Barcelona versus $3,410 in Lisburn.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,553 in Barcelona versus $4,597 in Lisburn.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 6% more expensive than Lisburn, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona75% above, Lisburn65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Lisburn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.64€15.01
$24.71£18.31
-28.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.0
$85.2£63.1
-20.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.96€11.88
$9.08£6.73
53.74%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.35
$4.69£3.48
-41.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76€2.35
$1.98£1.47
39.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97€1.67
$1.83£1.35
7.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.53€3.85
$8.33£6.17
-45.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.85
$7.25£5.37
-37.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Lisburn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.05
$1.92£1.43
-35.42%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04€1.73
$2.23£1.65
-8.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91€1.63
$4.13£3.06
-53.75%
Eggs
$3.39€2.89
$3.85£2.85
-11.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.34€15.60
$10.12£7.50
81.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.39€7.99
$8.99£6.66
4.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.90€16.08
$14.00£10.37
35.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63€2.23
$3.15£2.33
-16.51%
Banana(1kg)
$2.40€2.04
$1.58£1.17
51.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.80
$2.88£2.14
-26.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.70€2.30
$3.45£2.56
-21.74%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05€1.75
$1.63£1.21
25.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78€1.52
$1.55£1.15
14.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.25
$1.11£0.82
32.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.77
$1.51£1.12
-39.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€5.97
$19.12£14.17
-63.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.59€6.46
$10.73£7.95
-29.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.22
$2.77£2.05
-48.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32€1.97
$3.08£2.29
-24.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Lisburn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94€2.50
$3.32£2.46
-11.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.38€25.00
$88.0£65.2
-66.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.53€3.85
$5.52£4.09
-17.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.82
$1.54£1.14
38.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.97€24.65
$22.75£16.85
27.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.61
$2.40£1.78
-21.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.2K
$38.9K£28.8K
0.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.6K
$41.5K£30.7K
-21.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Lisburn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$293£217
-35.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.24€18.92
$17.46£12.94
27.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.57€31.12
$42.45£31.46
-13.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Lisburn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.38
$45.81£33.94
26.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.30€18.13
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.01€9.37
$13.86£10.27
-20.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Lisburn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$731€622
$1,602£1,187
-54.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.6K
$18.0K£13.3K
-17.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Lisburn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3€76.0
$84.0£62.3
6.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38€31.81
$43.09£31.93
-13.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€89.0
$93.7£69.4
11.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.0
$99.9£74.0
16.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Lisburn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,551€1,320
$1,214£899
27.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,216€1,035
$887£658
37.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,799€2,382
$2,023£1,499
38.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008€1,709
$1,680£1,245
19.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,161€6,094
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,021€4,273
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Lisburn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,462€2,095
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.63
-39.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 13, 2026
Last update for Lisburn: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,551 in Barcelona and $1,214 in Lisburn. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68 in Barcelona vs $85 in Lisburn for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $317 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 Lisburn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Lisburn?
Barcelona and Lisburn differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($2,356 vs $2,223 including rent). Lisburn 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 Lisburn?
You'd need roughly $3,534 in Barcelona and $3,335 in Lisburn 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 Lisburn?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,551 in Barcelona versus $1,214 in Lisburn. 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 Lisburn?
Childcare runs $731 in Barcelona versus $1,602 in Lisburn. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,223 in Lisburn versus $2,356 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lisburn but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Lisburn the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Lisburn?
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 Lisburn safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Lisburn 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 Lisburn?
Expats usually find Lisburn gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.