😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,482 in Barcelona versus $509 in Shahrekord.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in Barcelona versus $810 in Shahrekord.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,111 in Shahrekord.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 387% more expensive than in Shahrekord, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Shahrekord is 63% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Shahrekord
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42€15.88
$2.45$2.45
651.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4€59.8
$16.61$16.61
317.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.05€12.11
$3.90$3.90
260.26%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.84$0.84
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.01$1.01
-
Cappuccino
$3.11€2.68
$0.73$0.73
326.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.55
$0.47$0.47
529.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.69
$0.98$0.98
98.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.99€3.44
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€3.98
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Shahrekord
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.14
$0.62$0.62
112.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.82
$0.46$0.46
358.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$2.02$2.02
-9.41%
Eggs
$5.16€4.45
$1.20$1.20
330.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.56€15.14
$3.54$3.54
396.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.50€8.19
$3.10$3.10
206.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.93€17.18
$9.94$9.94
100.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.73
$1.03$1.03
207.77%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.91
$1.53$1.53
44.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61€2.25
$0.80$0.80
226.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$0.61$0.61
367.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$0.55$0.55
294.55%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.81
$0.49$0.49
330.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62€1.39
$0.59$0.59
174.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$0.22$0.22
300.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.61$0.61
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.56$0.56
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.40$1.40
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17€6.18
$2.32$2.32
209.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.33€7.18
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75€2.37
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Shahrekord
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.14€2.70
$0.17$0.17
1747.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.25€22.63
$7.69$7.69
241.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22€2.78
$0.47$0.47
585.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.30
$0.31$0.31
387.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.26€30.39
$2.35$2.35
1400.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.51
$0.08$0.08
2087.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.6K
$49.0K$49.0K
-25.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K€27.3K
$42.7K$42.7K
-25.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Shahrekord
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€161
$13.47$13.47
1289.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10€13.01
$1.53$1.53
886.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.60€32.41
$3.80$3.80
889.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Shahrekord
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5€47.83
$17.76$17.76
212.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.74€14.43
$13.29$13.29
25.96%
Cinema Ticket
$11.71€10.09
$1.97$1.97
494.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Shahrekord
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,011€871
$106$106
852.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.1K€14.7K
$1,614$1,614
957.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Shahrekord
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4€78.8
$21.59$21.59
323.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00€35.34
$28.37$28.37
44.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€95.3
$103$103
7.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126€109
$70.0$70.0
80.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Shahrekord
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,704€1,469
$285$285
497.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,299€1,120
$205$205
534.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,588€2,231
$672$672
285.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,929€1,663
$344$344
460.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,732€6,665
$898$898
760.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,384€4,641
$497$497
983.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Shahrekord
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,374€2,046
$204$204
1065.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
23.21
-86.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Last update for Shahrekord: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Barcelona and $285 in Shahrekord. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 1066% 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 $17.00 in Shahrekord for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $108 per month, with Shahrekord 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 Shahrekord: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Shahrekord?
Barcelona and Shahrekord differ by about 387% in total monthly costs ($2,482 vs $509 including rent). Shahrekord is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Shahrekord?
Average pay runs 1066% higher in Barcelona, 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 in Shahrekord?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,704 in Barcelona versus $285 in Shahrekord. 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 Shahrekord?
Childcare runs $1,011 in Barcelona versus $106 in Shahrekord. 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 209% 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 $509 in Shahrekord versus $2,482 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Shahrekord but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Shahrekord the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Shahrekord?
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 Shahrekord safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Shahrekord 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 Shahrekord?
Expats usually find Shahrekord gentler on the wallet – expenses run 387% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.