😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,086 in Portmore.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,829 in Portmore.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $2,572 in Portmore.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 115% more expensive than Portmore, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Portmore is 19% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Portmore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$4.79JMD 754
256.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$62.6JMD 9,843
10.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$8.99JMD 1,413
53.28%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$4.39JMD 691
-37.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.63JMD 99.8
342.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.55JMD 85.8
261.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.93JMD 303
125.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$2.21JMD 348
114.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Portmore
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$3.06JMD 481
-57.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$3.60JMD 566
-43.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.01JMD 159
97.03%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$3.50JMD 550
-3.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$11.11JMD 1,748
69.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$6.26JMD 984
49.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$7.48JMD 1,177
155.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$5.86JMD 922
-53.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$3.01JMD 473
-22.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$2.93JMD 461
-27.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$2.96JMD 466
-3.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$2.04JMD 321
-3.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.94JMD 305
-7.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$1.59JMD 250
-8.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$1.24JMD 195
-30.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$8.96JMD 1,409
-24.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$11.53JMD 1,814
-31.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.84JMD 447
-51.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$2.13JMD 334
11.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Portmore
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$1.52JMD 240
92.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$63.3JMD 9,958
-54.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$0.92JMD 145
384.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$3.19JMD 502
-35.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$6.31JMD 993
368.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.08JMD 171
68.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$42.6KJMD 6.7M
-8.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$33.1KJMD 5.2M
0.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Portmore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$155JMD 24.4K
22.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$21.91JMD 3,446
4.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$50.2JMD 7,897
-25.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Portmore
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$13.38JMD 2,104
-19.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Portmore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$226JMD 35.5K
222.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$2,515JMD 395.6K
487.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Portmore
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$26.22JMD 4,123
238.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$26.01JMD 4,090
41.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$72.3JMD 11.4K
41.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$75.9JMD 11.9K
52.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Portmore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$317JMD 49.9K
394.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$218JMD 34.3K
458.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$663JMD 104.2K
321.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$597JMD 93.9K
230.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$7,779JMD 1.2M
-0.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$5,891JMD 926.4K
-12.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Portmore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$1,294JMD 203.5K
81.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
9.15
-62.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Portmore: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $317 in Portmore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 81% 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 $63.0 in Portmore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $318 per month, with Portmore 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 Portmore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Portmore?
Barcelona and Portmore differ by about 115% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,086 including rent). Portmore is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Portmore?
Barcelona pays 81% 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 Portmore?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $317 in Portmore. 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 Portmore?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $226 in Portmore. 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 0% 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 $1,086 in Portmore versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Portmore but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Portmore the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Portmore?
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 Portmore safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Portmore 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 Portmore?
Expats usually find Portmore gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.