😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,441 in Barcelona versus $1,761 in Portsmouth, OH.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,477 in Barcelona versus $2,438 in Portsmouth, OH.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,513 in Barcelona versus $3,115 in Portsmouth, OH.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 39% more expensive than in Portsmouth, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona81% above, Portsmouth, OH30% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Portsmouth, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.35€16.30
$14.70$14.70
24.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.9€59.4
$40.61$40.61
64.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€12.21
$7.80$7.80
76.28%
Cappuccino
$3.17€2.81
$4.02$4.02
-21.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88€2.55
$2.11$2.11
36.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.73
$1.59$1.59
22.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.89€3.45
$8.91$8.91
-56.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50€3.99
$11.81$11.81
-61.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Portsmouth, OH
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.14
$0.73$0.73
75.34%
White Bread(500g)
$2.07€1.84
$2.77$2.77
-25.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79€1.59
$3.85$3.85
-53.51%
Eggs
$5.04€4.48
$2.22$2.22
127.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.29€15.36
$10.91$10.91
58.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.41€8.36
$22.19$22.19
-57.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.40€17.23
$9.72$9.72
99.59%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18€2.82
$4.85$4.85
-34.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09€1.86
$1.66$1.66
25.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64€2.35
$6.88$6.88
-61.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.83€2.52
$5.20$5.20
-45.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.20€1.96
$2.97$2.97
-25.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.90
$1.73$1.73
23.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59€1.42
$1.45$1.45
9.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93€0.83
$2.65$2.65
-64.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.25€6.44
$10.53$10.53
-31.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.00€7.11
$18.92$18.92
-57.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.31
$1.71$1.71
-14.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77€2.46
$3.29$3.29
-15.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Portsmouth, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94€2.61
$1.96$1.96
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.97€23.07
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.06€2.72
$2.92$2.92
4.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.34
$1.67$1.67
-9.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.08€30.28
$29.22$29.22
16.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71€1.52
$0.74$0.74
131.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K€32.2K
$36.1K$36.1K
0.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K€27.2K
$25.6K$25.6K
19.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Portsmouth, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183€163
$207$207
-11.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.76€13.11
$51.1$51.1
-71.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.68€32.58
$57.7$57.7
-36.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Portsmouth, OH
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8€49.60
$41.93$41.93
33.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.50€14.66
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.30€10.03
$13.37$13.37
-15.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Portsmouth, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$983€873
$538$538
82.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.7K€14.8K
$6,553$6,553
154.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Portsmouth, OH
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.9€81.7
$30.17$30.17
204.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.15€35.66
$25.31$25.31
58.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€96.3
$56.7$56.7
91.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€109
$123$123
-0.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Portsmouth, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,689€1,500
$574$574
194.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,323€1,175
$585$585
126.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,617€2,325
$763$763
242.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,924€1,709
$679$679
183.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,336€6,517
$2,796$2,796
162.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,253€4,666
$2,396$2,396
119.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Portsmouth, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,313€2,055
$1,586$1,586
45.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
6.15
-48.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 27, 2026
Last update for Portsmouth, OH: September 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,689 in Barcelona and $574 in Portsmouth, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 46% 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: $67.0 in Barcelona vs $41.00 in Portsmouth, OH. Groceries flip the comparison at $328 vs $423, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.
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 Portsmouth, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Portsmouth, OH?
Barcelona and Portsmouth, OH differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($2,441 vs $1,761 including rent). Portsmouth, OH is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Portsmouth, OH?
Average pay runs 46% 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 Portsmouth, OH?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,689 in Barcelona versus $574 in Portsmouth, OH. 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 Portsmouth, OH?
Childcare runs $983 in Barcelona versus $538 in Portsmouth, OH. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Portsmouth, OH – a meal for two runs $41.00 versus $67.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,761 in Portsmouth, OH versus $2,441 in Barcelona, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Portsmouth, OH but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Portsmouth, OH the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Portsmouth, OH?
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 Portsmouth, OH safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Portsmouth, OH 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 Portsmouth, OH?
Expats usually find Portsmouth, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.