😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $477 in Rasht.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $730 in Rasht.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $982 in Rasht.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 419% more expensive than in Rasht, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Rasht is 65% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Rasht
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$3.56$3.56
426.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$16.67$16.67
316.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$3.92$3.92
251.28%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.86$0.86
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.97$0.97
-
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$1.28$1.28
142.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$0.51$0.51
454.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.98$0.98
91.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Rasht
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$0.55$0.55
130.91%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$0.51$0.51
323.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.91$1.91
-7.85%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$1.23$1.23
317.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$4.17$4.17
328.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$2.45$2.45
293.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$8.96$8.96
124.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$0.76$0.76
327.63%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$1.34$1.34
66.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$0.74$0.74
251.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$0.51$0.51
441.18%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$0.48$0.48
360.42%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$0.49$0.49
332.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$0.36$0.36
330.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.24$0.24
295.83%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.63$0.63
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.26$0.26
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.36$1.36
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$1.63$1.63
350.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Rasht
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$0.17$0.17
1729.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
$11.21$11.21
130.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$0.52$0.52
528.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$0.26$0.26
469.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$1.47$1.47
2231.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$0.10$0.10
1630.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$49.3K$49.3K
-26.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$43.8K$43.8K
-30.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Rasht
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$13.14$13.14
1323.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$1.54$1.54
883.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$3.65$3.65
932.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Rasht
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$18.19$18.19
207.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
$11.75$11.75
45.36%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$1.02$1.02
1018.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Rasht
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$84.2$84.2
1083.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$2,579$2,579
540.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Rasht
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$16.08$16.08
476.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$25.24$25.24
63.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$106$106
4.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$77.6$77.6
61.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Rasht
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$216$216
689.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$155$155
732.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$378$378
579.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$209$209
827.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
$1,224$1,224
524.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
$630$630
720.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Rasht
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
$213$213
1004.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
19
-83.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Rasht: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $216 in Rasht. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 1005% 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 $17.00 in Rasht for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $99.0 per month, with Rasht 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 Rasht: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Rasht?
Barcelona and Rasht differ by about 419% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $477 including rent). Rasht is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Rasht?
Average pay runs 1005% 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 Rasht?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $216 in Rasht. 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 Rasht?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $84.2 in Rasht. 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 240% 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 $477 in Rasht versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rasht but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Rasht the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Rasht?
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 Rasht safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Rasht 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 Rasht?
Expats usually find Rasht gentler on the wallet – expenses run 419% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.