😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $2,016 in Mgarr.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $3,052 in Mgarr.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $4,087 in Mgarr.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 15% more expensive than in Mgarr, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, Mgarr51% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Mgarr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$20.50€17.96
-13.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$68.6€60.0
1.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$11.61€10.17
21.96%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$2.74€2.40
2.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$2.71€2.37
3.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$2.07€1.81
-0.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$4.91€4.30
-6.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$4.98€4.36
-5.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Mgarr
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.37€1.20
-10.22%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$1.54€1.35
31.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$3.48€3.05
-43.10%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$3.60€3.15
-3.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$9.78€8.57
87.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$10.86€9.51
-9.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$13.76€12.05
39.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$3.36€2.94
-18.75%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$2.05€1.80
16.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$2.76€2.42
-24.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$3.33€2.91
-17.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$1.78€1.56
10.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$2.82€2.47
-36.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$1.84€1.62
-19.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$1.23€1.07
-26.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$6.53€5.72
9.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$6.00€5.25
31.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$2.39€2.09
-42.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$1.78€1.56
34.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Mgarr
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$2.72€2.38
10.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$8.08€7.07
-46.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$1.94€1.70
9.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$34.26€30.00
-13.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.52€1.33
19.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$26.5K€23.2K
43.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$40.4K€35.4K
-19.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Mgarr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$167€146
13.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$29.24€25.61
-23.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$33.60€29.42
10.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Mgarr
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$65.5€57.3
-11.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$23.22€20.33
-11.02%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$15.27€13.37
-28.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Mgarr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$263€230
168.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$12.5K€11.0K
18.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Mgarr
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$100€88.0
-10.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$39.29€34.41
-6.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$146€128
-28.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$102€89.4
16.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Mgarr
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$1,144€1,002
37.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$955€836
29.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$1,962€1,718
38.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$1,484€1,299
37.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$4,156€3,640
81.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$2,953€2,587
77.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Mgarr
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.43
-37.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Mgarr: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $1,144 in Mgarr. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $69.0 in Mgarr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $300 per month, with Mgarr 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 Mgarr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Mgarr?
Barcelona and Mgarr differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $2,016 including rent). Mgarr 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 Mgarr?
You'd need roughly $3,480 in Barcelona and $3,024 in Mgarr 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 in Mgarr?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $1,144 in Mgarr. 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 Mgarr?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $263 in Mgarr. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mgarr – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $70.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,016 in Mgarr versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mgarr but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Mgarr the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Mgarr?
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 Mgarr safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Mgarr 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 Mgarr?
Expats usually find Mgarr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.