Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Miri Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Miri

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $699 in Miri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,090 in Miri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $1,482 in Miri.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 232% more expensive than in Miri, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Miri is 48% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Miri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 €15.46
$3.27 MYR 13.38
440.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7 €61.0
$11.59 MYR 47.40
501.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.16 €12.40
$3.86 MYR 15.80
266.84%
Cappuccino
$2.80 €2.45
$2.63 MYR 10.77
6.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 €2.46
$0.72 MYR 2.93
290.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 €1.81
$0.33 MYR 1.36
524.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.60 €4.03
$2.88 MYR 11.79
59.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 €4.11
$3.78 MYR 15.47
24.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Miri
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 €1.08
$1.37 MYR 5.61
-10.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 €1.78
$1.41 MYR 5.75
43.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 €1.73
$0.79 MYR 3.22
150.63%
Eggs
$3.49 €3.05
$3.38 MYR 13.81
3.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.33 €16.05
$10.91 MYR 44.62
68.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.83 €8.61
$4.57 MYR 18.68
115.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.13 €16.75
$11.78 MYR 48.19
62.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 €2.39
$3.13 MYR 12.81
-12.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 €2.09
$1.14 MYR 4.67
108.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 €1.82
$2.37 MYR 9.71
-12.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.75 €2.41
$1.38 MYR 5.64
99.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 €1.72
$0.58 MYR 2.39
237.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 €1.57
$0.91 MYR 3.74
96.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 €1.29
$0.98 MYR 4.00
51.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 €0.80
$0.34 MYR 1.38
167.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13 €6.25
$4.11 MYR 16.82
73.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.88 €6.90
$20.01 MYR 81.8
-60.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.21
$2.99 MYR 12.23
-53.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 €2.09
$2.30 MYR 9.42
3.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Miri
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.01 €2.64
$1.42 MYR 5.79
111.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.35 €25.71
$8.66 MYR 35.42
238.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.36 €3.82
$1.15 MYR 4.72
279.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 €1.86
$0.76 MYR 3.12
180.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.60 €25.93
$5.80 MYR 23.73
410.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.60
$0.46 MYR 1.88
295.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K €33.2K
$57.9K MYR 236.6K
-34.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K €28.4K
$28.1K MYR 114.9K
15.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Miri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €166
$30.68 MYR 125
516.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29 €19.52
$9.45 MYR 38.66
135.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16 €32.55
$32.82 MYR 134
13.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Miri
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 €50.8
$28.65 MYR 117
102.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66 €18.09
$6.05 MYR 24.75
241.49%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87 €9.52
$4.14 MYR 16.92
162.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Miri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 €618
$98.0 MYR 401
620.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K €13.0K
$5,147 MYR 21.1K
188.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Miri
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4 €78.3
$35.09 MYR 144
154.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60 €32.06
$19.12 MYR 78.2
91.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €91.1
$44.72 MYR 183
132.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €105
$31.45 MYR 129
279.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Miri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,579 €1,383
$317 MYR 1,298
397.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,238 €1,084
$164 MYR 670
655.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,712 €2,375
$491 MYR 2,010
451.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 €1,786
$376 MYR 1,538
442.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,527 €6,592
$1,206 MYR 4,932
524.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,239 €4,588
$681 MYR 2,784
669.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Miri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,364 €2,070
$686 MYR 2,807
244.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
3.63
-6.61%

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

Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026

Last update for Miri: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $317 in Miri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 244% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $12.00 in Miri for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $245 per month, with Miri 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 Miri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Miri?
Barcelona and Miri differ by about 232% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $699 including rent). Miri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Miri?
Average pay runs 244% higher in Barcelona, 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 in Miri?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $317 in Miri. 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 Miri?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $98.0 in Miri. 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 30% 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 $699 in Miri versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Miri but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Miri the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Miri?
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 Miri safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Miri 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 Miri?
Expats usually find Miri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 232% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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