😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $1,674 in Port Moresby.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $2,458 in Port Moresby.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $3,243 in Port Moresby.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 41% more expensive than in Port Moresby, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Port Moresby26% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Port Moresby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.96
$9.40PGK 41.48
82.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€59.3
$47.05PGK 208
44.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.89
$5.89PGK 25.97
131.58%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.42
$2.31PGK 10.18
20.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.46
$0.81PGK 3.59
248.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.71
$0.79PGK 3.46
148.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.86
$2.37PGK 10.46
86.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€4.01
$4.03PGK 17.79
14.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Port Moresby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$2.03PGK 8.95
-37.44%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.86
$1.63PGK 7.18
30.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.73
$1.49PGK 6.57
33.56%
Eggs
$3.37€2.93
$3.92PGK 17.29
-14.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.53
$4.48PGK 19.76
323.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.31
$6.39PGK 28.19
49.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.33
$9.66PGK 42.63
93.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.31
$4.00PGK 17.66
-33.75%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.82PGK 12.44
-16.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.82
$5.58PGK 24.61
-62.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.38
$5.40PGK 23.80
-49.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.71
$3.23PGK 14.27
-39.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.58
$2.81PGK 12.40
-35.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.32
$2.97PGK 13.09
-49.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.78
$1.33PGK 5.87
-33.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.91
$6.72PGK 29.66
0.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.90
$11.90PGK 52.5
-33.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$2.78PGK 12.26
-50.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.09
$3.77PGK 16.63
-36.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Port Moresby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.54
$0.46PGK 2.03
532.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.98
$23.87PGK 105
20.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.99
$5.84PGK 25.78
-21.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.78
$2.42PGK 10.69
-15.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€25.03
$16.92PGK 74.6
69.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.59
$1.14PGK 5.03
59.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.3K
$22.5KPGK 99.3K
74.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.3K
$24.5KPGK 107.9K
32.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Port Moresby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$104PGK 459
79.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.43
$48.57PGK 214
-54.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.71
$375PGK 1,654
-90.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Port Moresby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€50.2
$65.5PGK 289
-12.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€18.08
$20.13PGK 88.8
3.03%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.39
$9.50PGK 41.92
13.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Port Moresby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€632
$640PGK 2,825
13.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.2K
$3,999PGK 17.6K
278.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Port Moresby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.6
$32.08PGK 141
173.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€32.09
$37.61PGK 166
-2.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€90.2
$78.9PGK 348
31.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$100PGK 441
18.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Port Moresby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,328
$2,194PGK 9,678
-30.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,070
$478PGK 2,107
156.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,378
$3,402PGK 15.0K
-19.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,730
$852PGK 3,758
132.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,511
$2,083PGK 9,188
258.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,571
$3,850PGK 17.0K
36.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Port Moresby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,086
$426PGK 1,880
461.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
13.33
-74.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Port Moresby: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $2,194 in Port Moresby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 461% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $47.00 in Port Moresby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $307 per month, with Port Moresby 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 Moresby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Port Moresby?
Barcelona and Port Moresby differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $1,674 including rent). Port Moresby is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Port Moresby?
Average pay runs 461% 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 Moresby?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $2,194 in Port Moresby. 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 Moresby?
Childcare runs $725 in Barcelona versus $640 in Port Moresby. 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 4% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,674 in Port Moresby versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Port Moresby but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Port Moresby the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Port Moresby?
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 Moresby safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Port Moresby 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 Moresby?
Expats usually find Port Moresby gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.