πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,336 in Barcelona versus $1,122 in Pascani.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,475 in Barcelona versus $1,700 in Pascani.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,614 in Barcelona versus $2,278 in Pascani.
πLiving in Barcelona is roughly 108% more expensive than Pascani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Pascani is 16% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Barcelona
Pascani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.45β¬14.88
$12.08RONΒ 52.4
44.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8β¬59.6
$50.9RONΒ 221
37.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.91β¬11.86
$7.82RONΒ 33.95
77.88%
Cappuccino
$2.74β¬2.34
$3.56RONΒ 15.43
-23.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70β¬2.30
$1.98RONΒ 8.58
36.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03β¬1.73
$2.10RONΒ 9.11
-3.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.51β¬3.85
$3.28RONΒ 14.22
37.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61β¬3.93
$3.39RONΒ 14.71
35.99%
π Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Pascani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28β¬1.09
$1.49RONΒ 6.46
-14.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10β¬1.79
$1.34RONΒ 5.83
56.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99β¬1.70
$1.76RONΒ 7.62
13.07%
Eggs
$3.45β¬2.95
$3.28RONΒ 14.26
5.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.61β¬15.87
$8.53RONΒ 37.03
118.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.41β¬8.03
$7.05RONΒ 30.59
33.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.70β¬15.95
$11.94RONΒ 51.8
56.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61β¬2.22
$1.19RONΒ 5.17
119.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.39β¬2.04
$1.71RONΒ 7.41
39.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19β¬1.86
$1.61RONΒ 6.98
36.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.81β¬2.40
$2.43RONΒ 10.53
15.64%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03β¬1.73
$1.03RONΒ 4.46
97.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87β¬1.60
$1.08RONΒ 4.69
73.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45β¬1.24
$0.87RONΒ 3.79
66.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92β¬0.79
$0.79RONΒ 3.42
16.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82β¬5.82
$5.91RONΒ 25.65
15.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.71β¬6.58
$7.06RONΒ 30.63
9.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38β¬1.18
$1.11RONΒ 4.80
24.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33β¬1.99
$1.68RONΒ 7.29
38.69%
π Getting Around
Barcelona
Pascani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88β¬2.46
$0.70RONΒ 3.04
311.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.04β¬24.77
$19.70RONΒ 85.5
47.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43β¬3.78
$0.76RONΒ 3.31
482.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14β¬1.82
$0.82RONΒ 3.55
160.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.96β¬24.71
$7.10RONΒ 30.79
307.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90β¬1.62
$1.65RONΒ 7.18
15.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9Kβ¬32.3K
$27.8KRONΒ 120.7K
36.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3Kβ¬28.4K
$28.1KRONΒ 122.1K
18.32%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Pascani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186β¬158
$163RONΒ 709
13.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.17β¬18.91
$7.89RONΒ 34.25
180.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.52β¬31.15
$8.84RONΒ 38.38
313.12%
π Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Pascani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.4β¬49.81
$40.78RONΒ 177
43.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.75β¬17.70
$18.93RONΒ 82.2
9.61%
Cinema Ticket
$11.10β¬9.47
$11.11RONΒ 48.24
-0.09%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Pascani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$705β¬601
$445RONΒ 1,932
58.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2Kβ¬13.0K
$6,473RONΒ 28.1K
134.97%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Pascani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4β¬73.7
$68.1RONΒ 295
26.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.88β¬31.46
$42.07RONΒ 183
-12.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104β¬88.8
$95.4RONΒ 414
9.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115β¬98.4
$97.5RONΒ 423
18.40%
π Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Pascani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,538β¬1,312
$392RONΒ 1,703
291.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,242β¬1,060
$294RONΒ 1,275
322.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,728β¬2,327
$581RONΒ 2,523
369.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,011β¬1,716
$431RONΒ 1,869
366.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,155β¬6,104
$1,730RONΒ 7,508
313.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,843β¬4,131
$1,528RONΒ 6,630
216.99%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Pascani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,474β¬2,111
$815RONΒ 3,536
203.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
7.7
-55.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 19, 2026
Last update for Pascani: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,538 in Barcelona and $392 in Pascani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Barcelona pays 204% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $70 in Barcelona vs $51 in Pascani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $221 per month, with Pascani 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 Pascani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Pascani?
Barcelona and Pascani differ by about 108% in total monthly costs ($2,336 vs $1,122 including rent). Pascani is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Pascani?
Barcelona pays 204% 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 Pascani?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,538 in Barcelona versus $392 in Pascani. 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 Pascani?
Childcare runs $705 in Barcelona versus $445 in Pascani. 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 44% 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 $1,122 in Pascani versus $2,336 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pascani but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Pascani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Pascani?
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 Pascani safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Pascani 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 Pascani?
Expats usually find Pascani gentler on the wallet β expenses run 108% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.