😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $600 in San Francisco de Macoris.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $964 in San Francisco de Macoris.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $1,329 in San Francisco de Macoris.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 290% more expensive than San Francisco de Macoris, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, San Francisco de Macoris is 55% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$3.91DOP 229
336.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$13.38DOP 784
417.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$6.77DOP 397
103.55%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$2.60DOP 152
6.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.57DOP 33.38
389.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.53DOP 30.84
275.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$2.17DOP 127
100.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$2.61DOP 153
81.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.15DOP 67.7
12.17%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.81DOP 106
13.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.09DOP 64.1
82.57%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$1.46DOP 85.7
132.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$4.01DOP 235
369.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$3.46DOP 203
170.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$6.82DOP 400
180.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$2.70DOP 158
-
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$0.72DOP 42.35
225.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.30DOP 76.2
63.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$0.86DOP 50.4
231.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$1.19DOP 69.8
65.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.25DOP 73.5
44.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$0.61DOP 35.65
137.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.96DOP 56.2
-10.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$3.32DOP 194
104.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$10.67DOP 625
-25.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.76DOP 161
-49.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$3.20DOP 187
-25.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.57DOP 33.10
412.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$3.43DOP 201
30.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$1.94DOP 114
5.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$5.81DOP 340
408.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.15DOP 67.5
58.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$26.4KDOP 1.5M
46.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$32.2KDOP 1.9M
2.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$39.30DOP 2,302
381.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$8.73DOP 511
161.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$35.55DOP 2,082
5.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$16.90DOP 990
241.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$8.32DOP 487
149.28%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$4.28DOP 250
152.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$171DOP 10.0K
326.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$2,050DOP 120.1K
620.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$25.79DOP 1,511
243.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$51.6DOP 3,020
-28.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$66.8DOP 3,914
52.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$66.6DOP 3,902
74.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$160DOP 9,394
878.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$109DOP 6,383
1018.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$343DOP 20.1K
714.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$270DOP 15.8K
631.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
12.9
-73.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for San Francisco de Macoris: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $160 in San Francisco de Macoris. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $13.00 in San Francisco de Macoris for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $179 per month, with San Francisco de Macoris 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 San Francisco de Macoris: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and San Francisco de Macoris?
Barcelona and San Francisco de Macoris differ by about 290% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $600 including rent). San Francisco de Macoris is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to San Francisco de Macoris?
You'd need roughly $3,505 in Barcelona and $900 in San Francisco de Macoris to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and San Francisco de Macoris?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $160 in San Francisco de Macoris. 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 San Francisco de Macoris?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $171 in San Francisco de Macoris. 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 San Francisco de Macoris – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $600 in San Francisco de Macoris versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in San Francisco de Macoris but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes San Francisco de Macoris the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and San Francisco de Macoris?
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 San Francisco de Macoris safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and San Francisco de Macoris 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 San Francisco de Macoris?
Expats usually find San Francisco de Macoris gentler on the wallet – expenses run 290% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.