๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,356 in Barcelona versus $2,524 in Salisbury.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,455 in Barcelona versus $3,479 in Salisbury.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,553 in Barcelona versus $4,435 in Salisbury.
๐Living in Barcelona costs roughly 7% less than in Salisbury, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona75% above, Salisbury87% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Barcelona
Salisbury
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.64โฌ15.01
$22.93ยฃ16.99
-23.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1โฌ58.0
$92.0ยฃ68.2
-25.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.96โฌ11.88
$9.24ยฃ6.85
51.08%
Cappuccino
$2.76โฌ2.35
$4.56ยฃ3.38
-39.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76โฌ2.35
$2.22ยฃ1.64
24.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97โฌ1.67
$1.73ยฃ1.29
13.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.53โฌ3.85
$5.99ยฃ4.44
-24.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53โฌ3.85
$6.02ยฃ4.46
-24.75%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Salisbury
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24โฌ1.05
$1.64ยฃ1.22
-24.39%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04โฌ1.73
$1.12ยฃ0.83
82.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91โฌ1.63
$2.88ยฃ2.14
-33.68%
Eggs
$3.39โฌ2.89
$3.04ยฃ2.25
11.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.34โฌ15.60
$8.52ยฃ6.31
115.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.39โฌ7.99
$7.18ยฃ5.32
30.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.90โฌ16.08
$15.38ยฃ11.40
22.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63โฌ2.23
$1.85ยฃ1.37
42.16%
Banana(1kg)
$2.40โฌ2.04
$1.31ยฃ0.97
83.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12โฌ1.80
$2.92ยฃ2.17
-27.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.70โฌ2.30
$4.79ยฃ3.55
-43.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05โฌ1.75
$1.24ยฃ0.92
65.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78โฌ1.52
$1.20ยฃ0.89
48.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47โฌ1.25
$0.93ยฃ0.69
58.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91โฌ0.77
$1.09ยฃ0.81
-16.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01โฌ5.97
$16.08ยฃ11.92
-56.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.59โฌ6.46
$10.06ยฃ7.46
-24.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44โฌ1.22
$1.98ยฃ1.47
-27.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32โฌ1.97
$1.80ยฃ1.33
28.89%
๐ Getting Around
Barcelona
Salisbury
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94โฌ2.50
$5.51ยฃ4.08
-46.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.38โฌ25.00
$111ยฃ82.5
-73.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.53โฌ3.85
$4.71ยฃ3.49
-3.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14โฌ1.82
$1.52ยฃ1.13
40.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.97โฌ24.65
$16.27ยฃ12.05
78.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89โฌ1.61
$1.91ยฃ1.41
-1.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0Kโฌ33.2K
$27.2Kยฃ20.1K
43.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4Kโฌ27.6K
$33.9Kยฃ25.1K
-4.19%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Salisbury
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189โฌ161
$390ยฃ289
-51.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.24โฌ18.92
$15.60ยฃ11.56
42.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.57โฌ31.12
$40.93ยฃ30.33
-10.65%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Salisbury
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0โฌ49.38
$68.8ยฃ51.0
-15.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.30โฌ18.13
$12.10ยฃ8.96
76.03%
Cinema Ticket
$11.01โฌ9.37
$9.42ยฃ6.98
16.88%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Salisbury
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$731โฌ622
$1,291ยฃ957
-43.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kโฌ12.6K
$18.6Kยฃ13.8K
-20.07%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Salisbury
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3โฌ76.0
$71.1ยฃ52.7
25.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38โฌ31.81
$20.42ยฃ15.13
83.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105โฌ89.0
$90.0ยฃ66.7
16.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116โฌ99.0
$115ยฃ85.2
1.20%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Salisbury
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,551โฌ1,320
$1,241ยฃ920
24.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,216โฌ1,035
$1,138ยฃ843
6.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,799โฌ2,382
$2,073ยฃ1,536
35.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008โฌ1,709
$1,491ยฃ1,105
34.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,161โฌ6,094
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,021โฌ4,273
$4,832ยฃ3,580
3.91%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Salisbury
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,462โฌ2,095
$3,681ยฃ2,728
-33.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.77
-41.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 13, 2026
Last update for Salisbury: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,551 in Barcelona and $1,241 in Salisbury. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐSalisbury pays 50% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $68 in Barcelona vs $92 in Salisbury. Groceries flip the comparison at $316 vs $268, with Salisbury 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 Salisbury: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Salisbury?
Barcelona and Salisbury differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($2,356 vs $2,524 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Salisbury earns 50% less. 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 Salisbury?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,551 in Barcelona versus $1,241 in Salisbury. 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 Salisbury?
Childcare runs $731 in Barcelona versus $1,291 in Salisbury. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Salisbury pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,356 in Barcelona versus $2,524 in Salisbury, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Salisbury. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Salisbury?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Salisbury safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Salisbury 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 Salisbury?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 7% less than in Salisbury. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.