Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Sidney, NE

For one person, living is cheaper in Barcelona: $2,443 a month against $2,638 in Sidney, NE, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. The total is higher in Sidney, NE despite lower rent and utilities.

Barcelona, Spain
Sidney, NE, United States
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,443
/mo nomad
Sidney, NE
🇺🇸 United States
$2,638
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barcelona and in Sidney, NE

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Barcelona and in Sidney, NE actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,443 in Barcelona versus $2,638 in Sidney, NE.

  • Barcelona $2,443
  • Sidney, NE $2,638

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,519 in Barcelona versus $3,783 in Sidney, NE.

  • Barcelona $3,519
  • Sidney, NE $3,783

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,595 in Barcelona versus $4,928 in Sidney, NE.

  • Barcelona $4,595
  • Sidney, NE $4,928

Living in Barcelona costs roughly 7% less than in Sidney, NE, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 81% above, Sidney, NE 95% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sidney, NE
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 €15.71
$19.83 $19.83
-10.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.0
$40.66 $40.66
65.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.61 €12.12
$15.10 $15.10
-9.87%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.76
$5.78 $5.78
-46.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 €2.67
$2.94 $2.94
2.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 €1.71
$1.99 $1.99
-3.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.84 €3.42
$3.89 $3.89
-1.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 €3.88
$6.06 $6.06
-28.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sidney, NE
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 €1.11
$0.96 $0.96
30.21%
White Bread (500g)
$2.12 €1.89
$3.33 $3.33
-36.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 €1.76
$6.55 $6.55
-69.92%
Eggs
$4.76 €4.24
$4.03 $4.03
18.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.07 €15.19
$11.78 $11.78
44.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.96 €7.97
$8.70 $8.70
2.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.65 €18.38
$13.36 $13.36
54.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 €2.81
$5.92 $5.92
-46.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$1.47 $1.47
34.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 €2.36
$6.08 $6.08
-56.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.88 €2.57
$6.19 $6.19
-53.47%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 €1.83
$3.98 $3.98
-48.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 €1.94
$3.73 $3.73
-41.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.53 €1.37
$0.99 $0.99
54.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 €0.86
$2.31 $2.31
-58.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.97 €6.20
$7.96 $7.96
-12.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 €7.02
$16.25 $16.25
-51.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 €1.26
$1.91 $1.91
-25.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 €2.39
$5.14 $5.14
-47.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sidney, NE
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.31 €2.94
$1.82 $1.82
81.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.61 €22.79
$63.6 $63.6
-59.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 €2.74
$2.43 $2.43
26.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 €1.32
$1.44 $1.44
2.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.87 €29.25
$23.61 $23.61
39.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 €1.66
$0.94 $0.94
98.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K €29.3K
$27.6K $27.6K
19.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K €28.4K
$26.8K $26.8K
19.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sidney, NE
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 €163
$223 $223
-17.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.24 €12.67
$71.4 $71.4
-80.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.56 €30.76
$73.9 $73.9
-53.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sidney, NE
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.4 €45.76
$40.09 $40.09
28.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.38 €14.58
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.06 €9.85
$6.94 $6.94
59.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sidney, NE
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$944 €840
$793 $793
19.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.3K €19.8K
$32.2K $32.2K
-30.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sidney, NE
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7 €78.0
$69.3 $69.3
26.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.77 €34.51
$48.65 $48.65
-20.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.0
$92.5 $92.5
12.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 €105
$142 $142
-17.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sidney, NE
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,697 €1,510
$1,565 $1,565
8.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 €1,190
$1,252 $1,252
6.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,692 €2,396
$2,617 $2,617
2.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,077 €1,848
$2,090 $2,090
-0.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,155 €6,367
$2,888 $2,888
147.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,079 €4,520
$2,381 $2,381
113.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sidney, NE
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,241 €1,995
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.19
6.67
-52.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: November 2, 2026

Last update for Sidney, NE: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
$1.3K
Sidney, NE
$1.3K 6.4% $85
Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
$328
Sidney, NE
$401 22.4% $74
Eating Out
Barcelona
$267
Sidney, NE
$325 21.6% $58
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
$232
Sidney, NE
$368 58.8% $136
Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
$157
Sidney, NE
$159 1.1% $1.8
Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
$74
Sidney, NE
$54 26.6% $20
Getting Around
Barcelona
$49
Sidney, NE
$81 63.2% $31

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,697 in Barcelona and $1,565 in Sidney, NE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $67 in Barcelona vs $41 in Sidney, NE. Groceries flip the comparison at $328 vs $401, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🇺🇸 Sidney, NE
🕒 Local time
09:54 9:54 AM
01:54 1:54 AM
8 h behind Barcelona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,660,122
6,400
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 0.89 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barcelona Sidney, NE 8,150 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Barcelona
  • Sidney, NE

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Sidney, NE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Sidney, NE?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,443 in Barcelona and $2,638 in Sidney, NE, so Barcelona is about 7% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Sidney, NE?
You’d need roughly $3,664 in Barcelona and $3,958 in Sidney, NE 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 in Sidney, NE?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,697 in Barcelona versus $1,565 in Sidney, NE. 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 Sidney, NE?
Childcare runs $944 in Barcelona versus $793 in Sidney, NE. 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 22% higher in Sidney, NE. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How far does $3,000 go in Barcelona compared to Sidney, NE?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Barcelona gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Sidney, NE?
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 Sidney, NE safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Sidney, NE are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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