😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $749 in Mbabane.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,163 in Mbabane.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $1,577 in Mbabane.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 213% more expensive than Mbabane, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Mbabane is 44% below.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Mbabane
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$3.06SZL 51.3
475.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$28.91SZL 485
137.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$2.26SZL 37.83
508.41%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$1.88SZL 31.53
46.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$0.89SZL 14.98
212.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.55SZL 9.21
272.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$1.69SZL 28.40
172.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$1.71SZL 28.69
168.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Mbabane
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.04SZL 17.42
23.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$0.77SZL 12.97
174.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.29SZL 21.59
52.71%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$1.72SZL 28.90
100.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$9.03SZL 151
108.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$4.86SZL 81.4
94.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$5.20SZL 87.3
265.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$1.56SZL 26.08
74.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$0.71SZL 11.97
233.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$0.90SZL 15.11
131.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$1.39SZL 23.35
98.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.01SZL 16.95
95.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.23SZL 20.64
45.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$0.56SZL 9.42
169.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.78SZL 13.15
15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$2.58SZL 43.31
162.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$6.10SZL 102
23.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.45SZL 24.27
-0.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$1.37SZL 22.98
75.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Mbabane
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$1.14SZL 19.12
165.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$28.83SZL 483
-1.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$3.42SZL 57.3
29.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$2.73SZL 45.77
-24.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$3.40SZL 56.9
762.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.17SZL 19.70
61.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$17.0KSZL 284.7K
128.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$20.7KSZL 347.7K
56.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Mbabane
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$76.5SZL 1,283
146.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$35.63SZL 598
-37.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$28.37SZL 476
29.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Mbabane
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$28.55SZL 479
103.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$5.16SZL 86.5
306.78%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$3.67SZL 61.5
201.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Mbabane
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$107SZL 1,794
579.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$4,639SZL 77.8K
228.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Mbabane
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$44.41SZL 745
98.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$22.92SZL 384
61.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$72.2SZL 1,210
42.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$81.0SZL 1,358
47.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Mbabane
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$260SZL 4,356
487.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$179SZL 2,999
581.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$497SZL 8,327
462.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$372SZL 6,242
444.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$484SZL 8,114
1366.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$365SZL 6,114
1230.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Mbabane
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$663SZL 11.1K
262.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
11.62
-70.83%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Mbabane: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $260 in Mbabane. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 263% 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 $29.00 in Mbabane for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $159 per month, with Mbabane cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Barcelona vs Mbabane: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Mbabane?
Barcelona and Mbabane differ by about 213% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $749 including rent). Mbabane is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Mbabane?
Barcelona pays 263% 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 Mbabane?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $260 in Mbabane. 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 Mbabane?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $107 in Mbabane. 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 101% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $749 in Mbabane versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mbabane but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Mbabane the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Mbabane?
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 Mbabane safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Mbabane 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 Mbabane?
Expats usually find Mbabane gentler on the wallet – expenses run 213% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Barcelona vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado