πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,356 in Barcelona versus $996 in Oktyabr'skiy.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,455 in Barcelona versus $1,575 in Oktyabr'skiy.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,553 in Barcelona versus $2,154 in Oktyabr'skiy.
πLiving in Barcelona is roughly 137% more expensive than Oktyabr'skiy, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Oktyabr'skiy is 26% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Barcelona
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.64β¬14.97
$12.59β½945
40.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1β¬57.8
$51.7β½3,884
31.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.96β¬11.86
$5.59β½419
149.73%
Cappuccino
$2.76β¬2.35
$2.41β½181
14.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76β¬2.34
$1.23β½92.5
124.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97β¬1.67
$0.65β½48.74
203.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.53β¬3.84
$1.11β½83.3
308.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53β¬3.85
$2.61β½196
73.56%
π Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24β¬1.05
$1.10β½82.6
12.73%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04β¬1.73
$0.61β½45.49
234.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91β¬1.62
$1.17β½88.2
63.25%
Eggs
$3.39β¬2.88
$1.74β½130
94.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.34β¬15.57
$8.89β½668
106.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.39β¬7.97
$5.16β½388
81.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.90β¬16.04
$8.34β½626
126.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63β¬2.23
$1.54β½115
70.78%
Banana(1kg)
$2.40β¬2.04
$1.88β½141
27.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12β¬1.80
$2.20β½165
-3.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.70β¬2.29
$2.44β½183
10.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05β¬1.74
$0.67β½50.6
205.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78β¬1.51
$0.51β½38.60
249.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47β¬1.25
$1.74β½131
-15.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91β¬0.77
$0.61β½45.48
49.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01β¬5.96
$2.97β½223
136.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.59β¬6.44
$5.90β½443
28.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44β¬1.22
$0.87β½65.4
65.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32β¬1.97
$2.33β½175
-0.43%
π Getting Around
Barcelona
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94β¬2.50
$0.50β½37.19
488.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.38β¬24.94
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.53β¬3.84
$3.53β½265
28.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14β¬1.81
$0.36β½26.74
494.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.97β¬24.59
$3.70β½278
682.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89β¬1.61
$0.71β½53.0
166.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0Kβ¬33.1K
$49.7Kβ½3.7M
-21.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4Kβ¬27.5K
$44.1Kβ½3.3M
-26.52%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189β¬160
$118β½8,847
60.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.24β¬18.88
$6.71β½504
231.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.57β¬31.05
$8.27β½621
342.20%
π Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0β¬49.26
$35.08β½2,634
65.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.30β¬18.08
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.01β¬9.35
$4.14β½311
165.94%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$731β¬621
$316β½23.7K
131.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kβ¬12.6K
$6,038β½453.4K
145.62%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3β¬75.8
$98.5β½7,391
-9.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38β¬31.73
$47.41β½3,559
-21.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105β¬88.8
$125β½9,372
-16.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116β¬98.7
$75.1β½5,638
54.88%
π Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,551β¬1,317
$449β½33.7K
245.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,216β¬1,032
$299β½22.5K
306.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,799β¬2,376
$758β½56.9K
269.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008β¬1,705
$511β½38.4K
293.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,161β¬6,080
$1,960β½147.2K
265.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,021β¬4,263
$1,493β½112.1K
236.25%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Oktyabr'skiy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,462β¬2,091
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
15.33
-77.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 13, 2026
Last update for Oktyabr'skiy: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,551 in Barcelona and $449 in Oktyabr'skiy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $68 in Barcelona vs $52 in Oktyabr'skiy for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $184 per month, with Oktyabr'skiy 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 Oktyabr'skiy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Oktyabr'skiy?
Barcelona and Oktyabr'skiy differ by about 137% in total monthly costs ($2,356 vs $996 including rent). Oktyabr'skiy is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Oktyabr'skiy?
You'd need roughly $3,534 in Barcelona and $1,493 in Oktyabr'skiy to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Oktyabr'skiy?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,551 in Barcelona versus $449 in Oktyabr'skiy. 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 Oktyabr'skiy?
Childcare runs $731 in Barcelona versus $316 in Oktyabr'skiy. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Oktyabr'skiy β a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $996 in Oktyabr'skiy versus $2,356 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Oktyabr'skiy but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Oktyabr'skiy the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Oktyabr'skiy?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Oktyabr'skiy safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Oktyabr'skiy 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 Oktyabr'skiy?
Expats usually find Oktyabr'skiy gentler on the wallet β expenses run 137% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.