😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $614 in San Francisco de Macoris.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $962 in San Francisco de Macoris.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $1,310 in San Francisco de Macoris.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 282% more expensive than San Francisco de Macoris, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, San Francisco de Macoris is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$3.72DOP 220
373.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$13.37DOP 790
413.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$6.91DOP 408
98.99%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$2.48DOP 147
11.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$0.62DOP 36.51
348.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.49DOP 28.94
318.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$2.11DOP 124
118.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$2.50DOP 148
83.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.20DOP 70.8
6.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$1.75DOP 103
20.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.13DOP 66.8
74.34%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$1.45DOP 85.5
137.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$3.97DOP 235
374.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$3.39DOP 200
178.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$6.75DOP 399
181.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$2.63DOP 155
3.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$0.80DOP 46.99
196.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$1.24DOP 73.3
67.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$0.82DOP 48.44
236.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.21DOP 71.3
62.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.24DOP 73.2
44.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$0.60DOP 35.57
151.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.88DOP 52.3
2.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$3.38DOP 200
100.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$11.55DOP 683
-34.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$2.66DOP 157
-45.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$3.12DOP 184
-22.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$0.57DOP 33.63
431.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$3.32DOP 196
33.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$2.01DOP 119
1.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$5.79DOP 342
406.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.16DOP 68.4
62.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$26.3KDOP 1.6M
47.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$31.6KDOP 1.9M
2.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$38.98DOP 2,303
383.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$8.47DOP 500
162.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$36.30DOP 2,145
1.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$17.21DOP 1,017
236.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$8.66DOP 512
142.38%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$4.18DOP 247
164.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$172DOP 10.2K
321.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$2,016DOP 119.1K
655.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$25.03DOP 1,479
252.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$51.8DOP 3,062
-28.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$66.8DOP 3,948
53.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$68.4DOP 4,042
74.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$159DOP 9,419
857.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$106DOP 6,247
1052.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$333DOP 19.7K
738.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$269DOP 15.9K
654.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
San Francisco de Macoris
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
-
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for San Francisco de Macoris: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $159 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 $320 vs $178 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 282% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $614 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 $3,512 in Barcelona and $921 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: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $159 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 $726 in Barcelona versus $172 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 $614 in San Francisco de Macoris versus $2,341 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 282% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.