😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,016 in Samsun.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,502 in Samsun.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $1,987 in Samsun.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 130% more expensive than Samsun, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Samsun is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Samsun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$7.73₺357
120.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$25.36₺1,173
173.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$8.67₺401
58.94%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$2.84₺131
-2.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$1.31₺60.5
112.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.26₺12.06
665.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$2.78₺129
56.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$2.89₺134
64.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Samsun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.09₺50.6
18.35%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$0.39₺18.13
425.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$3.85₺178
-48.31%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$1.65₺76.4
105.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$8.73₺404
115.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$10.30₺476
-9.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$19.12₺884
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$1.29₺59.9
109.30%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.17₺54.3
100.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$0.91₺42.05
132.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$1.24₺57.5
129.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$0.65₺29.91
203.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$0.60₺27.75
200.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$0.80₺36.79
81.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.73₺33.63
17.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$2.05₺94.9
230.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$9.90₺458
-20.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.98₺91.6
-29.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$2.60₺120
-8.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Samsun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.58₺26.88
403.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$9.73₺450
194.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$2.33₺108
91.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$0.66₺30.46
210.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$4.66₺216
534.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.16₺53.9
56.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$43.1K₺2.0M
-9.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$50.1K₺2.3M
-33.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Samsun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$50.1₺2,316
277.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$10.94₺506
108.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$11.28₺522
233.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Samsun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$83.9₺3,879
-31.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$5.67₺262
90.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Samsun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$516₺23.9K
41.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$3,849₺178.0K
283.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Samsun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$37.40₺1,730
136.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$44.22₺2,046
-16.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$89.3₺4,133
14.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$44.71₺2,068
159.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Samsun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$491₺22.7K
219.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$335₺15.5K
263.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$715₺33.1K
291.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$514₺23.8K
284.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$771₺35.7K
905.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$428₺19.8K
1108.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Samsun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$984₺45.5K
138.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
43.33
-92.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Samsun: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $491 in Samsun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 138% 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 $25.00 in Samsun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $245 per month, with Samsun 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 Samsun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Samsun?
Barcelona and Samsun differ by about 130% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,016 including rent). Samsun is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Samsun?
Barcelona pays 138% 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 Samsun?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $491 in Samsun. 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 Samsun?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $516 in Samsun. 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 30% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,016 in Samsun versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Samsun but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Samsun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Samsun?
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 Samsun safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Samsun 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 Samsun?
Expats usually find Samsun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 130% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.