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: $2,495 in Barcelona versus $208 in Livingstone.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,550 in Barcelona versus $391 in Livingstone.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Barcelona versus $573 in Livingstone.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 1100% more expensive than in Livingstone, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 82% above, Livingstone is 85% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.39 €15.83

$7.79 ZMW 149

136.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.2 €59.5

$31.81 ZMW 609

117.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.13 €12.16

$9.16 ZMW 175

54.26%

Cappuccino

$3.13 €2.70

$5.40 ZMW 103

-42.04%

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

$3.02 €2.59

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 €1.69

$0.35 ZMW 6.76

460.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.00 €3.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 €4.10

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 €1.07

White Bread (500g)

$2.16 €1.86

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 €1.45

Eggs

$4.93 €4.24

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.88 €15.39

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.61 €8.27

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 €16.64

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 €2.78

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 €1.87

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 €2.30

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 €2.39

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 €1.90

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 €1.88

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 €1.31

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 €0.79

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.12 €6.13

Wine (Bottle)

$8.14 €7.00

$20.89 ZMW 400

-61.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.29

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 €2.39

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.15 €2.71

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.99 €23.23

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 €2.80

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 €1.29

$2.65 ZMW 50.8

-43.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.89 €30.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.75 €1.50

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

$36.7K €31.5K

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

$30.9K €26.6K

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

$188 €161

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

$15.44 €13.29

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.80 €32.52

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 €49.21

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 €14.45

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 €9.96

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

$1,003 €863

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K €14.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.2 €76.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.87 €35.17

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 €94.6

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 €106

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,673 €1,440

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,331 €1,146

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,596 €2,234

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,950 €1,678

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,573 €6,517

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,370 €4,621

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,402 €2,067

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.16

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

Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026

Last update for Livingstone: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $32.00 in Livingstone for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $42.00 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 1100% in total monthly costs ($2,495 vs $208 including rent). Livingstone is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,743 in Barcelona and $312 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 $32.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,495 per month in Barcelona versus $208 in Livingstone – a 1100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $208 in Livingstone versus $2,495 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 1100% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.