😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $451 in Misrata.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $723 in Misrata.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $996 in Misrata.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 449% more expensive than in Misrata, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Misrata is 67% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$2.85LYD 18.07
557.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$9.19LYD 58.2
655.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$2.56LYD 16.21
437.89%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.64LYD 4.07
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.45LYD 2.86
-
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$0.46LYD 2.93
573.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$0.46LYD 2.88
515.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.10LYD 0.60
1780.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$0.88LYD 5.58
44.32%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$0.22LYD 1.40
881.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.01LYD 6.42
74.26%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$1.22LYD 7.72
320.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$4.05LYD 25.68
341.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$3.32LYD 21.06
190.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$8.86LYD 56.2
127.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$2.34LYD 14.82
38.89%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$1.48LYD 9.39
50.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$0.73LYD 4.62
256.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$0.52LYD 3.27
430.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$0.72LYD 4.54
206.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$0.50LYD 3.17
324.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$0.39LYD 2.49
297.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.18LYD 1.15
427.78%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.19LYD 13.85
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.75LYD 4.74
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.79LYD 5.03
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$1.96LYD 12.39
274.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$0.66LYD 4.18
371.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
$39.36LYD 249
-34.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$0.80LYD 5.10
308.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$0.45LYD 2.87
228.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$2.36LYD 14.94
1352.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$0.02LYD 0.12
8550.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$23.6KLYD 149.6K
54.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$13.9KLYD 87.9K
120.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$63.8LYD 404
193.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$5.81LYD 36.85
160.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$26.99LYD 171
39.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$14.03LYD 88.9
298.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
$7.78LYD 49.30
119.54%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$4.85LYD 30.74
135.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$25.92LYD 164
3744.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$614LYD 3,892
2591.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$20.96LYD 133
341.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$17.00LYD 108
142.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$47.24LYD 299
135.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$41.16LYD 261
203.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$145LYD 920
1075.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$74.9LYD 474
1618.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$331LYD 2,097
675.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$218LYD 1,385
788.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
$505LYD 3,198
1415.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
$103LYD 654
4907.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Misrata
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
$398LYD 2,522
490.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
20
-84.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Misrata: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $145 in Misrata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 490% 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 $9.00 in Misrata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $108 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 449% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $451 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 490% 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: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $145 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 $997 in Barcelona versus $25.92 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 210% 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 $451 in Misrata versus $2,476 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 449% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.