Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Livingstone Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Livingstone

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $176 in Livingstone.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $316 in Livingstone.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $457 in Livingstone.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 1245% more expensive than Livingstone, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Livingstone is 87% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.58 €15.12

$6.11 ZMW 109

187.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.4 €58.9

$24.45 ZMW 436

179.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.06 €12.09

$7.40 ZMW 132

90.00%

Cappuccino

$2.78 €2.39

$4.20 ZMW 75.1

-33.81%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 €2.41

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 €1.78

$0.28 ZMW 4.95

635.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.46 €3.84

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 €3.96

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 €1.07

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 €1.74

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 €1.65

Eggs

$3.31 €2.85

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.43 €15.85

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.49 €8.16

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.16 €16.48

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 €2.27

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 €2.11

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 €1.82

Tomato (1kg)

$2.85 €2.45

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 €1.75

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 €1.59

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 €1.26

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.73

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.14 €6.14

Wine (Bottle)

$7.88 €6.78

$21.62 ZMW 386

-63.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 €1.99

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.98 €2.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.26 €25.17

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 €3.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 €1.78

$1.77 ZMW 31.55

16.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.18 €25.10

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 €1.58

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$39.0K €33.6K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.7K €28.1K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$188 €162

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.93 €19.73

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.71 €31.58

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.4 €49.35

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.70 €17.80

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 €9.63

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$721 €620

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K €12.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.2 €74.2

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.07 €31.89

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 €87.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 €99.7

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,534 €1,319

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,220 €1,050

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,696 €2,319

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,013 €1,732

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,220 €6,211

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,189 €4,463

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,359 €2,029

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.39

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

Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026

Last update for Livingstone: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $24.00 in Livingstone for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $43.00 per month, with Livingstone 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 Livingstone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barcelona and Livingstone differ by about 1245% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $176 including rent). Livingstone is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,550 in Barcelona and $264 in Livingstone 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Livingstone – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,367 per month in Barcelona versus $176 in Livingstone – a 1245% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $176 in Livingstone versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Livingstone but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Livingstone the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Barcelona and Livingstone are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Livingstone gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1245% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.