😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $799 in Pago Pago.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,400 in Pago Pago.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,002 in Pago Pago.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 193% more expensive than Pago Pago, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Pago Pago is 40% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$25.10$25.10
-29.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$6.93$6.93
891.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$0.99$0.99
178.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$1.28$1.28
117.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$1.97$1.97
134.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$1.95$1.95
135.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$2.62$2.62
-51.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$2.94$2.94
-28.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$4.35$4.35
-54.71%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$4.46$4.46
-22.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$10.16$10.16
85.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$11.28$11.28
68.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$11.58$11.58
-41.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$14.78$14.78
-48.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$3.03$3.03
-20.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$2.05$2.05
47.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$4.95$4.95
-10.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.31$1.31
44.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$30.40$30.40
-26.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$75.5$75.5
-51.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$49.09$49.09
18.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$9.82$9.82
113.75%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$8.82$8.82
25.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$147$147
937.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$199$199
510.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$902$902
209.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$696$696
191.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$18.2K$18.2K
-60.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$10.6K$10.6K
-54.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$1,220$1,220
96.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Pago Pago: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $147 in Pago Pago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 97% 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 $7.00 in Pago Pago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $191 per month, with Pago Pago 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 Pago Pago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Pago Pago?
Barcelona and Pago Pago differ by about 193% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $799 including rent). Pago Pago is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Pago Pago?
Barcelona pays 97% 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 Pago Pago?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $147 in Pago Pago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Pago Pago – a meal for two runs $7.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Barcelona or Pago Pago?
All in, you'll spend $2,341 per month in Barcelona versus $799 in Pago Pago – a 193% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $799 in Pago Pago versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pago Pago but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Pago Pago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Pago Pago?
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 Pago Pago safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Pago Pago 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 Pago Pago?
Expats usually find Pago Pago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 193% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.