😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,441 in Barcelona versus $2,199 in Rome, GA.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,477 in Barcelona versus $3,118 in Rome, GA.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,513 in Barcelona versus $4,037 in Rome, GA.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 11% more expensive than in Rome, GA, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona81% above, Rome, GA63% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Rome, GA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.35€16.30
$13.42$13.42
36.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.9€59.4
$50.2$50.2
33.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€12.21
$8.92$8.92
54.15%
Cappuccino
$3.17€2.81
$5.85$5.85
-45.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88€2.55
$2.66$2.66
8.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.73
$2.30$2.30
-15.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.89€3.45
$4.86$4.86
-19.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50€3.99
$5.84$5.84
-22.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Rome, GA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.14
$1.05$1.05
21.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.07€1.84
$3.00$3.00
-31.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79€1.59
$4.54$4.54
-60.57%
Eggs
$5.04€4.48
$4.07$4.07
23.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.29€15.36
$7.34$7.34
135.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.41€8.36
$7.45$7.45
26.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.40€17.23
$9.52$9.52
103.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18€2.82
$6.40$6.40
-50.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09€1.86
$1.14$1.14
83.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64€2.35
$2.82$2.82
-6.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.83€2.52
$3.84$3.84
-26.30%
Potato(1kg)
$2.20€1.96
$3.53$3.53
-37.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.90
$5.33$5.33
-59.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59€1.42
$1.84$1.84
-13.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93€0.83
$1.86$1.86
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.25€6.44
$7.88$7.88
-7.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.00€7.11
$14.97$14.97
-46.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.31
$1.44$1.44
2.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77€2.46
$1.54$1.54
79.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Rome, GA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94€2.61
$2.05$2.05
43.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.97€23.07
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.06€2.72
$2.98$2.98
2.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.34
$1.56$1.56
-3.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.08€30.28
$30.24$30.24
12.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71€1.52
$0.89$0.89
92.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K€32.2K
$24.7K$24.7K
46.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K€27.2K
$24.9K$24.9K
23.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Rome, GA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183€163
$249$249
-26.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.76€13.11
$45.77$45.77
-67.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.68€32.58
$70.2$70.2
-47.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Rome, GA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8€49.60
$41.25$41.25
35.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.50€14.66
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.30€10.03
$12.30$12.30
-8.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Rome, GA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$983€873
$710$710
38.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.7K€14.8K
$17.9K$17.9K
-6.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Rome, GA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.9€81.7
$25.07$25.07
266.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.15€35.66
$25.28$25.28
58.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€96.3
$93.1$93.1
16.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€109
$135$135
-9.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Rome, GA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,689€1,500
$1,262$1,262
33.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,323€1,175
$1,056$1,056
25.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,617€2,325
$1,790$1,790
46.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,924€1,709
$1,639$1,639
17.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,336€6,517
$1,801$1,801
307.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,253€4,666
$1,766$1,766
197.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Rome, GA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,313€2,055
$2,658$2,658
-12.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
6.18
-48.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 27, 2026
Last update for Rome, GA: September 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,689 in Barcelona and $1,262 in Rome, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rome, GA pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Barcelona vs $50.0 in Rome, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $328 vs $323 per month, with Rome, GA 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 Rome, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Rome, GA?
Barcelona and Rome, GA differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($2,441 vs $2,199 including rent). Rome, GA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Rome, GA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Rome, GA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,689 in Barcelona versus $1,262 in Rome, GA. 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 Rome, GA?
Childcare runs $983 in Barcelona versus $710 in Rome, GA. 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 Rome, GA – a meal for two runs $50.0 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 $3,000 per month?
At $2,199 in Rome, GA versus $2,441 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Rome, GA but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Rome, GA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Rome, GA?
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 Rome, GA safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Rome, GA 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 Rome, GA?
Expats usually find Rome, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.