😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $921 in Ohrid.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,517 in Ohrid.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $2,113 in Ohrid.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 154% more expensive than Ohrid, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Ohrid is 31% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Ohrid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$7.29MKD 387
134.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$33.87MKD 1,797
104.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$6.62MKD 351
108.16%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$2.30MKD 122
20.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$2.02MKD 107
38.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$1.23MKD 65.2
61.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$2.66MKD 141
63.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$3.30MKD 175
43.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Ohrid
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.23MKD 65.3
4.88%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$0.76MKD 40.54
169.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.73MKD 92.0
15.03%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$2.22MKD 118
52.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$8.69MKD 461
116.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$7.99MKD 424
17.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$13.86MKD 735
37.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$0.98MKD 51.9
175.51%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.41MKD 75.1
65.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.32MKD 69.8
60.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$2.16MKD 115
31.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$0.81MKD 43.04
143.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$0.93MKD 49.22
93.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$0.72MKD 37.99
101.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.55MKD 29.13
56.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$3.15MKD 167
115.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$5.46MKD 290
44.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.09MKD 58.0
27.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$1.32MKD 70.0
79.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Ohrid
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$1.14MKD 60.7
156.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$21.31MKD 1,131
34.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$0.91MKD 48.10
390.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$0.49MKD 26.19
318.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$7.72MKD 410
282.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.52MKD 80.7
19.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$34.2KMKD 1.8M
13.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$29.1KMKD 1.5M
13.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Ohrid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$160MKD 8,490
18.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$17.83MKD 946
27.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$19.18MKD 1,018
95.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Ohrid
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$34.96MKD 1,855
65.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$18.69MKD 991
10.97%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$6.41MKD 340
68.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Ohrid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$277MKD 14.7K
162.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$3,504MKD 185.9K
321.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Ohrid
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$76.4MKD 4,053
16.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$40.30MKD 2,139
-8.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$98.4MKD 5,220
3.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$110MKD 5,853
5.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Ohrid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$235MKD 12.5K
567.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$170MKD 9,016
616.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$557MKD 29.6K
401.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$465MKD 24.7K
325.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$2,098MKD 111.3K
269.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$1,368MKD 72.6K
278.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Ohrid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$629MKD 33.4K
272.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.54
-25.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Ohrid: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $235 in Ohrid. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 272% 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 $34.00 in Ohrid for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $206 per month, with Ohrid 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 Ohrid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Ohrid?
Barcelona and Ohrid differ by about 154% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $921 including rent). Ohrid is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Ohrid?
Barcelona pays 272% more on average, 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 Ohrid?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $235 in Ohrid. 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 Ohrid?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $277 in Ohrid. 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 55% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $921 in Ohrid versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ohrid but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Ohrid the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Ohrid?
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 Ohrid safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Ohrid 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 Ohrid?
Expats usually find Ohrid gentler on the wallet – expenses run 154% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.