🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $2,339 in Pembroke.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $3,925 in Pembroke.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $5,512 in Pembroke.
🌍Living in Barcelona costs roughly 1% less than in Pembroke, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, Pembroke75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$58.8BMD 58.8
-69.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$150BMD 150
-53.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$14.90BMD 14.90
-4.97%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$4.39BMD 4.39
-36.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$3.36BMD 3.36
-16.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$2.98BMD 2.98
-30.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$8.23BMD 8.23
-44.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$8.46BMD 8.46
-44.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$4.40BMD 4.40
-72.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$8.93BMD 8.93
-77.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$5.43BMD 5.43
-63.54%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$7.64BMD 7.64
-54.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$11.73BMD 11.73
56.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$24.12BMD 24.12
-59.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$31.79BMD 31.79
-39.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$10.29BMD 10.29
-73.47%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$6.27BMD 6.27
-62.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$12.67BMD 12.67
-83.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$11.45BMD 11.45
-75.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$8.23BMD 8.23
-76.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$5.16BMD 5.16
-65.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$6.09BMD 6.09
-75.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$3.15BMD 3.15
-71.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$17.48BMD 17.48
-59.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$24.78BMD 24.78
-68.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$5.46BMD 5.46
-74.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$4.46BMD 4.46
-46.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$3.86BMD 3.86
-22.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$67.4BMD 67.4
-56.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$6.27BMD 6.27
-30.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$54.6BMD 54.6
-45.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$2.29BMD 2.29
-20.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$34.5KBMD 34.5K
9.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$39.5KBMD 39.5K
-18.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$232BMD 232
-18.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$121BMD 121
-81.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$155BMD 155
-76.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$79.2BMD 79.2
-26.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$13.76BMD 13.76
-21.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$1,332BMD 1,332
-47.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$24.0KBMD 24.0K
-38.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$80.8BMD 80.8
10.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$60.7BMD 60.7
-39.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$135BMD 135
-22.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$128BMD 128
-6.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$3,822BMD 3,822
-58.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$5,763BMD 5,763
30.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$8,135BMD 8,135
-70.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
7.22
-53.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Pembroke: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $3,822 in Pembroke. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pembroke pays 244% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $150 in Pembroke for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $817 per month, with Barcelona 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 Pembroke: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Pembroke?
Barcelona and Pembroke differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $2,339 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 244% lower in Pembroke. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Pembroke?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $3,822 in Pembroke. 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 Pembroke?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $1,332 in Pembroke. 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 155% higher in Pembroke. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,320 in Barcelona versus $2,339 in Pembroke, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Pembroke. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Pembroke?
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 Pembroke safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Pembroke 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 Pembroke?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Pembroke. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.