😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $421 in Misrata.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $683 in Misrata.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $946 in Misrata.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 460% more expensive than in Misrata, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Misrata is 68% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$2.67LYD 17.04
542.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$11.10LYD 70.8
513.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$3.61LYD 23.04
277.84%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.56LYD 3.59
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.45LYD 2.87
-
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$0.48LYD 3.05
479.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$0.49LYD 3.12
475.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.11LYD 0.71
1681.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$0.89LYD 5.67
42.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$0.21LYD 1.34
914.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$0.96LYD 6.15
107.29%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$1.08LYD 6.91
212.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$4.59LYD 29.27
313.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$2.16LYD 13.76
341.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$9.25LYD 59.0
102.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$1.57LYD 10.02
68.79%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$1.25LYD 8.00
88.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$0.76LYD 4.87
175.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$0.53LYD 3.36
415.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$0.70LYD 4.43
180.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$0.57LYD 3.61
217.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$0.41LYD 2.63
268.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.22LYD 1.40
304.55%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.26LYD 8.06
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.71LYD 4.51
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.64LYD 4.08
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$1.87LYD 11.89
262.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$0.54LYD 3.42
438.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$63.6LYD 406
-54.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$0.96LYD 6.14
377.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$0.58LYD 3.69
251.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$4.46LYD 28.44
543.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$0.03LYD 0.22
5966.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$13.9KLYD 88.4K
183.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$16.1KLYD 102.8K
101.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$32.32LYD 206
477.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$4.16LYD 26.49
435.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$13.48LYD 86.0
169.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$18.92LYD 121
204.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
$9.02LYD 57.5
129.93%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$2.76LYD 17.59
290.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$52.4LYD 334
1283.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$832LYD 5,303
1721.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$21.63LYD 138
306.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$10.54LYD 67.2
249.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$34.17LYD 218
202.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$41.57LYD 265
185.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$201LYD 1,282
657.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$91.2LYD 581
1245.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$372LYD 2,374
632.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$183LYD 1,169
981.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$498LYD 3,174
1399.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$103LYD 658
4977.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
$396LYD 2,525
504.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
13.6
-75.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Misrata: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $201 in Misrata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 504% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $11.00 in Misrata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $100 per month, with Misrata 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 Misrata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Misrata?
Barcelona and Misrata differ by about 460% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $421 including rent). Misrata is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Misrata?
Average pay runs 504% 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 Misrata?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $201 in Misrata. 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 Misrata?
Childcare runs $725 in Barcelona versus $52.4 in Misrata. 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 219% 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 $421 in Misrata versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Misrata but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Misrata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Misrata?
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 Misrata safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Misrata 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 Misrata?
Expats usually find Misrata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 460% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.