😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,434 in Barcelona versus $976 in Port Louis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,473 in Barcelona versus $1,611 in Port Louis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,512 in Barcelona versus $2,245 in Port Louis.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 149% more expensive than in Port Louis, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 78% above, Port Louis is 29% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.80€16.09
$6.55MUR 304
187.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€59.4
$38.03MUR 1,768
82.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.08€12.05
$7.65MUR 356
84.05%
Cappuccino
$3.12€2.66
$2.63MUR 122
18.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91€2.49
$1.07MUR 49.78
171.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87€1.60
$0.55MUR 25.35
240.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.00€3.42
$3.27MUR 152
22.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.64€3.97
$4.75MUR 221
-2.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19€1.02
$1.63MUR 75.9
-26.99%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.82
$0.79MUR 36.74
169.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84€1.57
$1.16MUR 54.1
58.62%
Eggs
$5.13€4.39
$2.67MUR 124
92.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.39€14.02
$5.37MUR 250
205.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.71€8.31
$6.34MUR 295
53.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.65€16.81
$11.54MUR 537
70.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13€2.68
$2.84MUR 132
10.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.87
$2.73MUR 127
-20.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.46€2.11
$1.45MUR 67.6
69.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77€2.37
$3.05MUR 142
-9.18%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$0.96MUR 44.71
120.83%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23€1.90
$0.94MUR 43.89
137.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.27
$0.76MUR 35.14
96.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.78
$0.86MUR 40.15
5.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.26€6.21
$6.34MUR 295
14.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.29€7.09
$8.43MUR 392
-1.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.32
$1.63MUR 75.7
-5.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.30
$2.37MUR 110
13.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.07€2.63
$1.03MUR 47.79
198.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.93€22.18
$32.33MUR 1,503
-19.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.34€2.86
$4.32MUR 201
-22.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.88€1.61
$3.15MUR 146
-40.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.98€29.92
$20.96MUR 975
66.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74€1.49
$1.40MUR 65.0
24.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K€31.2K
$36.1KMUR 1.7M
1.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K€27.0K
$30.8KMUR 1.4M
2.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183€156
$45.41MUR 2,111
302.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.70€13.43
$10.63MUR 494
47.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.73€31.42
$29.65MUR 1,379
23.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5€45.76
$26.07MUR 1,212
105.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.13€14.65
$3.81MUR 177
349.61%
Cinema Ticket
$11.51€9.85
$6.22MUR 289
85.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$952€815
$127MUR 5,896
650.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K€13.8K
$7,703MUR 358.1K
110.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.5€70.5
$78.5MUR 3,650
5.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.47€34.62
$75.7MUR 3,519
-46.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€92.2
$122MUR 5,659
-11.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€107
$79.2MUR 3,682
58.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,668€1,426
$491MUR 22.8K
239.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,288€1,101
$278MUR 12.9K
363.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,663€2,278
$768MUR 35.7K
246.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,904€1,628
$609MUR 28.3K
212.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,513€6,427
$4,075MUR 189.5K
84.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,178€4,429
$1,058MUR 49.2K
389.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,451€2,096
$680MUR 31.6K
260.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.12
6.67
-53.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: August 17, 2026
Last update for Port Louis: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,668 in Barcelona and $491 in Port Louis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 260% 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 $38.00 in Port Louis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $328 vs $222 per month, with Port Louis 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 Port Louis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Port Louis?
Barcelona and Port Louis differ by about 149% in total monthly costs ($2,434 vs $976 including rent). Port Louis is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Port Louis?
Average pay runs 260% 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 Port Louis?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,668 in Barcelona versus $491 in Port Louis. 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 Port Louis?
Childcare runs $952 in Barcelona versus $127 in Port Louis. 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 48% 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 $976 in Port Louis versus $2,434 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Port Louis but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Port Louis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Port Louis?
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 Port Louis safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Port Louis 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 Port Louis?
Expats usually find Port Louis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 149% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.