😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $939 in Pachuca.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $1,567 in Pachuca.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $2,196 in Pachuca.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 164% more expensive than in Pachuca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Pachuca is 31% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Pachuca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$5.09MX$87.8
268.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$27.34MX$471
154.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$8.63MX$149
59.56%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$3.25MX$56.0
-4.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$1.27MX$21.82
122.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.89MX$15.38
111.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$1.71MX$29.45
132.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$3.41MX$58.8
32.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Pachuca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.59MX$27.48
-20.13%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$2.84MX$48.92
-23.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.99MX$34.35
-11.56%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$2.81MX$48.50
82.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$7.66MX$132
133.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$5.02MX$86.6
92.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$8.26MX$142
143.95%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$2.15MX$37.08
51.16%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$1.37MX$23.69
62.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$1.65MX$28.37
57.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$1.76MX$30.41
56.82%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$1.63MX$28.11
35.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$1.38MX$23.83
53.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$0.93MX$16.10
66.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$1.01MX$17.40
-5.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$4.55MX$78.4
61.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$8.91MX$154
-9.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$1.47MX$25.37
4.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$2.73MX$47.15
2.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Pachuca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$0.62MX$10.76
401.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
$29.61MX$511
-12.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$2.85MX$49.13
14.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$3.45MX$59.5
-57.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$11.60MX$200
195.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$1.44MX$24.87
20.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$23.3KMX$401.3K
56.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$24.9KMX$430.0K
22.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Pachuca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$44.47MX$767
320.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$17.00MX$293
-10.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$24.08MX$415
56.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Pachuca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$25.37MX$437
120.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
$11.78MX$203
44.99%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$4.80MX$82.7
137.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Pachuca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$177MX$3,052
462.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$2,842MX$49.0K
481.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Pachuca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$58.8MX$1,013
57.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$43.48MX$750
-5.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$104MX$1,787
7.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$83.3MX$1,435
50.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Pachuca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$432MX$7,448
295.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$293MX$5,053
338.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$650MX$11.2K
294.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$742MX$12.8K
161.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
$799MX$13.8K
857.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
$694MX$12.0K
644.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Pachuca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
$695MX$12.0K
237.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
10.8
-70.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Pachuca: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $432 in Pachuca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 238% 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 $27.00 in Pachuca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $225 per month, with Pachuca 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 Pachuca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Pachuca?
Barcelona and Pachuca differ by about 164% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $939 including rent). Pachuca is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Pachuca?
Average pay runs 238% 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 Pachuca?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $432 in Pachuca. 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 Pachuca?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $177 in Pachuca. 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 49% 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 $939 in Pachuca versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pachuca but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Pachuca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Pachuca?
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 Pachuca safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Pachuca 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 Pachuca?
Expats usually find Pachuca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 164% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.