😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $867 in Manaus.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,347 in Manaus.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $1,828 in Manaus.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 170% more expensive than Manaus, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Manaus is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Manaus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$5.36R$26.73
228.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$25.32R$126
171.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$6.27R$31.29
119.30%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$2.03R$10.15
35.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$1.00R$5.01
178.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.71R$3.56
188.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$2.48R$12.38
85.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$4.88R$24.37
-5.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Manaus
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.26R$6.27
1.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$1.41R$7.02
49.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.15R$5.75
71.30%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$2.03R$10.13
69.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$9.72R$48.53
93.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$3.67R$18.31
157.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$6.60R$32.91
188.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$2.14R$10.70
27.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$1.52R$7.58
55.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$1.29R$6.42
61.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$1.82R$9.08
51.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.18R$5.91
66.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.14R$5.67
57.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$0.70R$3.47
115.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.64R$3.20
40.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$3.53R$17.64
91.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$8.98R$44.81
-15.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.36R$6.79
5.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$2.09R$10.42
15.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Manaus
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$0.79R$3.93
283.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$35.32R$176
-19.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$0.94R$4.69
371.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$0.67R$3.34
205.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$8.87R$44.28
230.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.20R$6.00
57.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$19.7KR$98.5K
96.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$22.7KR$113.1K
42.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Manaus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$106R$531
77.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$14.15R$70.6
56.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$22.95R$115
60.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Manaus
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$23.09R$115
151.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$23.24R$116
-9.68%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$6.01R$29.99
83.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Manaus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$202R$1,009
259.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$4,758R$23.7K
219.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Manaus
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$45.65R$228
93.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$28.97R$145
27.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$54.2R$270
89.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$63.3R$316
88.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Manaus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$392R$1,957
289.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$238R$1,188
411.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$666R$3,324
319.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$493R$2,461
311.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$1,761R$8,789
302.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$1,310R$6,538
270.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Manaus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$529R$2,639
354.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
9.83
-65.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Manaus: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $392 in Manaus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 355% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $25.00 in Manaus for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $186 per month, with Manaus 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 Manaus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Manaus?
Barcelona and Manaus differ by about 170% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $867 including rent). Manaus is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Manaus?
Barcelona pays 355% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Manaus?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $392 in Manaus. 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 Manaus?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $202 in Manaus. 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 72% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $867 in Manaus versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Manaus but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Manaus the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Manaus?
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 Manaus safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Manaus 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 Manaus?
Expats usually find Manaus gentler on the wallet – expenses run 170% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.