😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,495 in Barcelona versus $930 in Passos.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,550 in Barcelona versus $1,480 in Passos.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Barcelona versus $2,030 in Passos.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 168% more expensive than in Passos, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 82% above, Passos is 32% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Passos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39€15.83
$9.20R$47.14
99.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.5
$33.59R$172
105.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.13€12.16
$8.34R$42.72
69.42%
Cappuccino
$3.13€2.70
$2.14R$10.95
46.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.59
$1.27R$6.48
137.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$0.91R$4.65
115.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.00€3.44
$2.33R$11.94
71.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76€4.10
$3.56R$18.27
33.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Passos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$1.07R$5.47
16.82%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.86
$2.01R$10.31
7.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69€1.45
$1.34R$6.88
26.12%
Eggs
$4.93€4.24
$2.65R$13.57
86.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.39
$11.22R$57.5
59.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61€8.27
$4.92R$25.22
95.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.34€16.64
$10.24R$52.5
88.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24€2.78
$2.30R$11.79
40.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.87
$1.78R$9.11
22.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67€2.30
$1.54R$7.91
73.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77€2.39
$1.42R$7.29
95.07%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.90
$1.28R$6.54
72.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19€1.88
$1.17R$5.99
87.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52€1.31
$0.91R$4.65
67.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.79
$0.81R$4.17
13.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12€6.13
$2.37R$12.13
200.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.14€7.00
$7.85R$40.20
3.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.50R$7.71
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.39
$2.45R$12.53
13.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Passos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.15€2.71
$0.82R$4.21
284.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.99€23.23
$48.51R$249
-44.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.25€2.80
$1.13R$5.77
187.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50€1.29
$0.75R$3.85
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.89€30.03
$8.44R$43.23
313.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.50
$1.23R$6.29
42.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.5K
$22.8KR$116.6K
61.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K€26.6K
$30.8KR$158.0K
0.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Passos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€161
$63.6R$326
194.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.44€13.29
$15.58R$79.8
-0.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.80€32.52
$22.39R$115
68.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Passos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.2€49.21
$24.71R$127
131.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80€14.45
$23.29R$119
-27.87%
Cinema Ticket
$11.58€9.96
$7.66R$39.27
51.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Passos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,003€863
$420R$2,152
138.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0K€14.6K
$9,757R$50.0K
74.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Passos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2€76.8
$64.0R$328
39.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.87€35.17
$54.6R$280
-25.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€94.6
$92.9R$476
18.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€106
$83.4R$428
46.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Passos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,673€1,440
$337R$1,726
396.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331€1,146
$230R$1,177
479.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,596€2,234
$635R$3,253
308.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,950€1,678
$443R$2,269
340.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,573€6,517
$1,849R$9,472
309.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,370€4,621
$1,161R$5,951
362.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Passos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,402€2,067
$402R$2,062
496.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
10.81
-70.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Last update for Passos: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,673 in Barcelona and $337 in Passos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 497% 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 $34.00 in Passos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $219 per month, with Passos 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 Passos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Passos?
Barcelona and Passos differ by about 168% in total monthly costs ($2,495 vs $930 including rent). Passos is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Passos?
Average pay runs 497% 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 Passos?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,673 in Barcelona versus $337 in Passos. 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 Passos?
Childcare runs $1,003 in Barcelona versus $420 in Passos. 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 51% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $930 in Passos versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Passos but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Passos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Passos?
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 Passos safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Passos 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 Passos?
Expats usually find Passos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 168% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.