Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Ourem Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Ourem

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,356 in Barcelona versus $1,594 in Ourem.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,455 in Barcelona versus $2,374 in Ourem.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,553 in Barcelona versus $3,153 in Ourem.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 48% more expensive than Ourem, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 75% above, Ourem 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Ourem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.64 €15.01
$11.65 €9.91
51.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1 €58.0
$46.70 €39.74
45.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.96 €11.88
$9.27 €7.89
50.59%
Cappuccino
$2.76 €2.35
$1.50 €1.27
84.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 €2.35
$1.93 €1.64
43.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 €1.67
$1.43 €1.22
37.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.53 €3.85
$3.42 €2.91
32.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €3.85
$3.37 €2.87
34.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Ourem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.05
$1.07 €0.91
15.89%
White Bread (500g)
$2.04 €1.73
$2.39 €2.03
-14.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 €1.63
$1.36 €1.16
40.44%
Eggs
$3.39 €2.89
$3.14 €2.67
7.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.34 €15.60
$12.22 €10.40
50.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.39 €7.99
$7.96 €6.77
17.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.90 €16.08
$11.24 €9.57
68.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 €2.23
$1.91 €1.63
37.70%
Banana (1kg)
$2.40 €2.04
$1.28 €1.09
87.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 €1.80
$1.46 €1.24
45.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.70 €2.30
$2.45 €2.09
10.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 €1.75
$1.83 €1.56
12.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 €1.52
$1.84 €1.56
-3.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.25
$1.89 €1.60
-22.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 €0.77
$0.83 €0.71
9.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01 €5.97
$6.50 €5.53
7.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.59 €6.46
$3.43 €2.92
121.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 €1.22
$1.29 €1.10
11.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 €1.97
$1.57 €1.34
47.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Ourem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.94 €2.50
$2.29 €1.95
28.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.38 €25.00
$41.80 €35.57
-29.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.53 €3.85
$4.24 €3.61
6.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 €1.82
$0.82 €0.69
160.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.97 €24.65
$18.44 €15.69
57.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 €1.61
$2.02 €1.72
-6.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K €33.2K
$34.0K €29.0K
14.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K €27.6K
$38.6K €32.8K
-15.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Ourem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €161
$121 €103
56.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.24 €18.92
$20.82 €17.72
6.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.57 €31.12
$39.89 €33.95
-8.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Ourem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 €49.38
$44.29 €37.69
31.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.30 €18.13
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.01 €9.37
$9.06 €7.71
21.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Ourem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$731 €622
$608 €518
20.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K €12.6K
$6,300 €5,361
135.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Ourem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3 €76.0
$78.7 €67.0
13.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38 €31.81
$41.55 €35.36
-10.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €89.0
$94.3 €80.2
10.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 €99.0
$122 €104
-4.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Ourem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,551 €1,320
$915 €779
69.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,216 €1,035
$735 €625
65.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,799 €2,382
$1,450 €1,234
93.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,008 €1,709
$1,145 €975
75.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,161 €6,094
$3,432 €2,921
108.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,021 €4,273
$2,153 €1,832
133.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Ourem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,462 €2,095
$1,428 €1,216
72.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
3.81
-11.02%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: April 13, 2026

Last update for Ourem: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,551 in Barcelona and $915 in Ourem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 72% 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 in Barcelona vs $47 in Ourem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $241 per month, with Ourem 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 Ourem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Ourem?
Barcelona and Ourem differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($2,356 vs $1,594 including rent). Ourem is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Ourem?
Barcelona pays 72% 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 Ourem?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,551 in Barcelona versus $915 in Ourem. 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 Ourem?
Childcare runs $731 in Barcelona versus $608 in Ourem. 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 31% 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 $1,594 in Ourem versus $2,356 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ourem but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Ourem the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Ourem?
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 Ourem safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Ourem 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 Ourem?
Expats usually find Ourem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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