😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $2,356 in Pembroke.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $3,897 in Pembroke.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $5,439 in Pembroke.
😐Monthly costs are close between Barcelona and Pembroke; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Pembroke76% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$60.1BMD 60.1
-70.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$152BMD 152
-55.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$14.72BMD 14.72
-4.48%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$4.54BMD 4.54
-38.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$3.51BMD 3.51
-20.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$2.97BMD 2.97
-30.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$8.22BMD 8.22
-45.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$8.73BMD 8.73
-47.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$4.34BMD 4.34
-71.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$8.66BMD 8.66
-76.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$5.61BMD 5.61
-65.78%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$7.39BMD 7.39
-55.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$11.75BMD 11.75
56.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$24.61BMD 24.61
-61.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$32.66BMD 32.66
-41.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$10.52BMD 10.52
-74.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$6.32BMD 6.32
-61.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$12.69BMD 12.69
-83.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$11.37BMD 11.37
-74.93%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$8.44BMD 8.44
-75.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$5.17BMD 5.17
-64.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$5.87BMD 5.87
-74.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$3.27BMD 3.27
-74.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$17.65BMD 17.65
-59.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$24.90BMD 24.90
-68.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$5.33BMD 5.33
-74.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$4.37BMD 4.37
-47.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$3.89BMD 3.89
-23.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
$69.0BMD 69.0
-57.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$6.13BMD 6.13
-24.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$53.2BMD 53.2
-45.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$2.39BMD 2.39
-23.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$35.0KBMD 35.0K
11.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$39.1KBMD 39.1K
-16.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$235BMD 235
-20.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$117BMD 117
-80.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$159BMD 159
-76.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$80.7BMD 80.7
-28.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$13.70BMD 13.70
-18.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$1,333BMD 1,333
-45.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$24.0KBMD 24.0K
-37.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$80.6BMD 80.6
7.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$58.8BMD 58.8
-37.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$136BMD 136
-24.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$128BMD 128
-9.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$3,708BMD 3,708
-58.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
$5,624BMD 5,624
28.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Pembroke
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
$7,856BMD 7,856
-69.97%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Pembroke: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $3,708 in Pembroke. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pembroke pays 233% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $152 in Pembroke for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $820 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
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Pembroke earns 233% less. 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 Pembroke?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $3,708 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 $721 in Barcelona versus $1,333 in Pembroke. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Pembroke – a meal for two runs $152 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Pembroke is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
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.
How do I decide between Barcelona and Pembroke?
It comes down to priorities – Pembroke wins on affordability, Barcelona on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.