😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,495 in Barcelona versus $2,006 in Moncton.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,550 in Barcelona versus $3,078 in Moncton.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Barcelona versus $4,149 in Moncton.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 24% more expensive than in Moncton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona82% above, Moncton46% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Moncton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39€15.86
$18.83CA$26.16
-2.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$69.1CA$96.1
0.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.13€12.19
$10.93CA$15.19
29.28%
Cappuccino
$3.13€2.70
$3.62CA$5.03
-13.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$2.09CA$2.90
44.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$1.89CA$2.63
3.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.00€3.45
$4.61CA$6.40
-13.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76€4.11
$5.90CA$8.20
-19.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Moncton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.08
$3.10CA$4.31
-59.68%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.87
$2.87CA$3.98
-24.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69€1.45
$3.42CA$4.75
-50.58%
Eggs
$4.93€4.25
$3.92CA$5.45
25.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.42
$13.89CA$19.30
28.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61€8.29
$11.03CA$15.32
-12.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.34€16.68
$13.27CA$18.44
45.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24€2.79
$5.61CA$7.79
-42.25%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.88
$1.63CA$2.27
33.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67€2.30
$4.83CA$6.71
-44.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77€2.39
$5.84CA$8.11
-52.57%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.91
$2.13CA$2.96
3.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19€1.89
$2.17CA$3.01
0.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52€1.31
$2.56CA$3.56
-40.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.79
$2.23CA$3.10
-58.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12€6.14
$14.46CA$20.10
-50.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.14€7.02
$14.46CA$20.10
-43.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$3.29CA$4.57
-54.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.40
$4.00CA$5.56
-30.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Moncton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.15€2.72
$2.12CA$2.95
48.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.99€23.28
$51.4CA$71.5
-47.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.25€2.80
$2.84CA$3.95
14.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50€1.29
$1.40CA$1.95
7.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.89€30.10
$21.53CA$29.92
62.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.51
$1.21CA$1.68
44.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.6K
$28.3KCA$39.4K
29.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K€26.7K
$19.6KCA$27.3K
57.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Moncton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$127CA$177
47.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.44€13.32
$42.17CA$58.6
-63.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.80€32.60
$65.0CA$90.3
-41.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Moncton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.2€49.32
$51.3CA$71.3
11.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80€14.49
$11.69CA$16.24
43.71%
Cinema Ticket
$11.58€9.99
$12.87CA$17.89
-10.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Moncton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,003€865
$388CA$539
158.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0K€14.7K
$13.4KCA$18.6K
27.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Moncton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2€77.0
$61.1CA$84.9
46.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.87€35.25
$35.95CA$49.95
13.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€94.9
$107CA$148
3.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€106
$121CA$167
1.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Moncton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,673€1,443
$1,048CA$1,456
59.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331€1,148
$832CA$1,156
60.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,596€2,239
$1,637CA$2,275
58.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,950€1,682
$1,367CA$1,900
42.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,573€6,532
$2,215CA$3,078
241.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,370€4,632
$2,089CA$2,902
157.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Moncton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,402€2,072
$2,415CA$3,356
-0.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
4.6
-31.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Last update for Moncton: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,673 in Barcelona and $1,048 in Moncton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Moncton pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $69.0 in Moncton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $413 per month, with Barcelona 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 Moncton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Moncton?
Barcelona and Moncton differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($2,495 vs $2,006 including rent). Moncton is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Moncton. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Moncton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,673 in Barcelona versus $1,048 in Moncton. 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 Moncton?
Childcare runs $1,003 in Barcelona versus $388 in Moncton. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 25% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,006 in Moncton versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Moncton but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Moncton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Moncton?
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 Moncton safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Moncton 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 Moncton?
Expats usually find Moncton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.