😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,434 in Barcelona versus $1,483 in Pago Pago.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,473 in Barcelona versus $2,260 in Pago Pago.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,512 in Barcelona versus $3,038 in Pago Pago.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 64% more expensive than in Pago Pago, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona78% above, Pago Pago8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.80€16.09
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€59.4
$35.73$35.73
94.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.08€12.05
$9.88$9.88
42.51%
Cappuccino
$3.12€2.66
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91€2.49
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87€1.60
$0.98$0.98
90.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.00€3.42
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.64€3.97
$4.03$4.03
15.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19€1.02
$2.60$2.60
-54.23%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.82
$2.85$2.85
-25.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84€1.57
$4.38$4.38
-57.99%
Eggs
$5.13€4.39
$4.57$4.57
12.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.39€14.02
$10.14$10.14
61.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.71€8.31
$10.02$10.02
-3.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.65€16.81
$11.50$11.50
70.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13€2.68
$6.17$6.17
-49.27%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.87
$0.99$0.99
120.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.46€2.11
$2.99$2.99
-17.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77€2.37
$4.08$4.08
-32.11%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$3.92$3.92
-45.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23€1.90
$3.96$3.96
-43.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.27
$2.03$2.03
-26.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.78
$2.06$2.06
-55.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.26€6.21
$11.67$11.67
-37.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.29€7.09
$14.86$14.86
-44.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.32
$0.97$0.97
58.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.30
$3.00$3.00
-10.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.07€2.63
$2.01$2.01
52.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.93€22.18
$123$123
-78.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.34€2.86
$5.08$5.08
-34.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.88€1.61
$2.02$2.02
-6.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.98€29.92
$29.89$29.89
17.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74€1.49
$1.30$1.30
33.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K€31.2K
$29.8K$29.8K
22.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K€27.0K
$20.0K$20.0K
57.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183€156
$408$408
-55.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.70€13.43
$29.86$29.86
-47.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.73€31.42
$74.8$74.8
-50.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5€45.76
$49.31$49.31
8.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.13€14.65
$9.94$9.94
72.33%
Cinema Ticket
$11.51€9.85
$8.85$8.85
30.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$952€815
$1,000$1,000
-4.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K€13.8K
$10.2K$10.2K
59.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.5€70.5
$70.8$70.8
16.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.47€34.62
$49.33$49.33
-17.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€92.2
$81.6$81.6
32.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€107
$98.2$98.2
27.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,668€1,426
$331$331
404.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,288€1,101
$202$202
537.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,663€2,278
$897$897
196.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,904€1,628
$714$714
166.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,513€6,427
$17.7K$17.7K
-57.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,178€4,429
$10.8K$10.8K
-51.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Pago Pago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,451€2,096
$1,194$1,194
105.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.12
3
4.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: August 17, 2026
Last update for Pago Pago: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,668 in Barcelona and $331 in Pago Pago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 105% 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 $36.00 in Pago Pago. Groceries flip the comparison at $328 vs $368, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.
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 in Pago Pago?
Barcelona and Pago Pago differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($2,434 vs $1,483 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?
Average pay runs 105% 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 Pago Pago?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,668 in Barcelona versus $331 in Pago Pago. 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 Pago Pago?
Childcare runs $952 in Barcelona versus $1,000 in Pago Pago. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,483 in Pago Pago versus $2,434 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 64% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.