😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,080 in Port Louis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,699 in Port Louis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $2,319 in Port Louis.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 116% more expensive than Port Louis, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Port Louis is 20% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$6.53MUR 308
161.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$43.69MUR 2,057
58.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$6.98MUR 329
97.42%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$2.56MUR 121
7.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$1.02MUR 48.19
173.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.60MUR 28.37
231.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$2.26MUR 107
92.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$3.33MUR 157
42.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.69MUR 79.5
-23.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$0.67MUR 31.37
205.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.32MUR 62.4
50.76%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$2.33MUR 110
45.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$12.10MUR 570
55.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$6.13MUR 289
52.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$12.72MUR 599
50.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$1.98MUR 93.1
36.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.96MUR 92.4
19.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.49MUR 70.3
42.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$2.74MUR 129
4.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$1.02MUR 48.27
93.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$0.94MUR 44.46
91.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$0.81MUR 38.06
79.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.76MUR 35.75
13.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$6.41MUR 302
5.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$8.58MUR 404
-7.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.73MUR 81.7
-19.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$2.26MUR 106
4.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$1.05MUR 49.57
178.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$22.34MUR 1,052
28.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$4.28MUR 202
4.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$2.61MUR 123
-21.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$19.86MUR 935
48.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.47MUR 69.3
23.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$36.3KMUR 1.7M
6.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$28.5KMUR 1.3M
16.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$48.79MUR 2,297
287.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$18.23MUR 858
25.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$33.17MUR 1,562
13.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$23.97MUR 1,129
140.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$4.01MUR 189
417.21%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$6.03MUR 284
79.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$157MUR 7,384
364.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$3,956MUR 186.3K
273.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$85.7MUR 4,033
3.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$79.2MUR 3,729
-53.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$132MUR 6,213
-22.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$92.8MUR 4,371
25.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$472MUR 22.2K
232.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$353MUR 16.6K
245.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$777MUR 36.6K
259.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$630MUR 29.7K
213.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$4,057MUR 191.1K
91.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$1,045MUR 49.2K
395.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$671MUR 31.6K
249.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.67
-49.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Port Louis: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $472 in Port Louis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 249% 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 $44.00 in Port Louis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $232 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 Port Louis?
Barcelona and Port Louis differ by about 116% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,080 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?
Barcelona pays 249% 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 Port Louis?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $472 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 $728 in Barcelona versus $157 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 37% 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 $1,080 in Port Louis versus $2,337 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 116% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.