😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $794 in Mutare.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $1,254 in Mutare.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $1,714 in Mutare.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 197% more expensive than in Mutare, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Mutare is 40% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Mutare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$9.82ZWL 262
74.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$49.05ZWL 1,309
38.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$4.38ZWL 117
211.42%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$1.24ZWL 32.96
124.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$0.66ZWL 17.65
327.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.43ZWL 11.43
355.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$1.39ZWL 37.06
218.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$1.78ZWL 47.41
158.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Mutare
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$1.23ZWL 32.72
3.25%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$1.01ZWL 27.04
110.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$1.33ZWL 35.35
49.62%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$1.93ZWL 51.6
74.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$3.06ZWL 81.5
519.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$3.90ZWL 104
144.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$4.89ZWL 130
283.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$2.02ZWL 53.9
31.19%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$1.62ZWL 43.14
45.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.99ZWL 53.0
5.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$0.97ZWL 26.01
181.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$1.54ZWL 41.09
27.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.02ZWL 27.35
77.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$0.49ZWL 12.97
208.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.99ZWL 26.54
-10.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$1.08ZWL 28.90
527.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$6.15ZWL 164
28.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.18ZWL 31.38
16.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$1.74ZWL 46.29
37.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Mutare
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$0.48ZWL 12.71
506.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$26.97ZWL 719
6.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$2.92ZWL 78.0
56.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$1.96ZWL 52.4
4.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$5.10ZWL 136
463.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$1.56ZWL 41.59
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$20.1KZWL 535.5K
95.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$23.3KZWL 622.6K
39.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Mutare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$57.8ZWL 1,541
223.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$15.22ZWL 406
46.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$60.3ZWL 1,610
-39.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Mutare
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$40.37ZWL 1,077
42.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
$4.94ZWL 132
319.84%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$10.09ZWL 269
6.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Mutare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$148ZWL 3,951
389.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$7,359ZWL 196.3K
105.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Mutare
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$10.03ZWL 268
775.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$9.58ZWL 255
284.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$24.60ZWL 656
320.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$20.04ZWL 535
491.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Mutare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$351ZWL 9,353
334.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$255ZWL 6,791
381.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$763ZWL 20.4K
257.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$399ZWL 10.6K
397.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$251ZWL 6,705
2871.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
-
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💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Mutare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
$248ZWL 6,606
866.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
13.31
-74.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Mutare: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $351 in Mutare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 866% 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 $49.00 in Mutare for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $154 per month, with Mutare 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 Mutare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Mutare?
Barcelona and Mutare differ by about 197% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $794 including rent). Mutare is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Mutare?
Average pay runs 866% 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 Mutare?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $351 in Mutare. 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 Mutare?
Childcare runs $725 in Barcelona versus $148 in Mutare. 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 108% 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 $794 in Mutare versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mutare but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Mutare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Mutare?
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 Mutare safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Mutare 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 Mutare?
Expats usually find Mutare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 197% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.