😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,070 in Port Louis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,680 in Port Louis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,290 in Port Louis.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 119% more expensive than Port Louis, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Port Louis is 20% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$6.55MUR 306
168.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$44.85MUR 2,099
53.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$7.04MUR 329
95.31%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$2.59MUR 121
6.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$1.02MUR 47.83
172.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.55MUR 25.82
272.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$2.17MUR 101
112.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$3.27MUR 153
40.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.68MUR 78.8
-23.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$0.66MUR 30.91
219.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.27MUR 59.5
55.12%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$2.23MUR 104
54.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$12.02MUR 563
56.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$6.26MUR 293
50.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$12.72MUR 595
49.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$2.00MUR 93.7
36.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$2.00MUR 93.4
18.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$1.44MUR 67.4
44.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$2.64MUR 123
4.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$0.99MUR 46.42
98.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$0.99MUR 46.19
80.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$0.86MUR 40.15
75.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.77MUR 35.93
16.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$6.54MUR 306
3.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$8.49MUR 397
-11.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.78MUR 83.1
-19.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$2.23MUR 104
8.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$1.02MUR 47.65
197.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$22.48MUR 1,052
26.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$4.37MUR 204
1.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$2.74MUR 128
-25.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$20.17MUR 944
45.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.40MUR 65.4
35.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$35.3KMUR 1.7M
9.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$28.5KMUR 1.3M
13.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$48.88MUR 2,287
285.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$18.03MUR 843
23.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$33.09MUR 1,548
11.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$23.89MUR 1,118
142.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$4.00MUR 187
424.75%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$5.88MUR 275
87.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$156MUR 7,301
365.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$3,900MUR 182.5K
290.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$85.0MUR 3,976
3.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$78.9MUR 3,693
-53.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$134MUR 6,256
-23.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$93.2MUR 4,360
27.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$465MUR 21.7K
228.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$357MUR 16.7K
241.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$783MUR 36.6K
256.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$627MUR 29.4K
223.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$4,163MUR 194.8K
70.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$1,086MUR 50.8K
346.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$648MUR 30.3K
270.84%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Port Louis: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $465 in Port Louis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 271% 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 $45.00 in Port Louis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 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 119% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,070 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 271% 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: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $465 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 $726 in Barcelona versus $156 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 38% 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 $1,070 in Port Louis versus $2,341 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 119% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.