😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $660 in Sidoarjo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $995 in Sidoarjo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $1,330 in Sidoarjo.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 263% more expensive than Sidoarjo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Sidoarjo is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68€15.22
$1.51Rp 26.8K
1070.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€60.3
$12.40Rp 219.6K
465.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.76
$3.06Rp 54.2K
346.41%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.36
$0.59Rp 10.4K
364.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.50Rp 8,900
458.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$0.26Rp 4,583
653.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$2.49Rp 44.1K
75.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.94
$3.93Rp 69.6K
16.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.41Rp 25.0K
-8.51%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.08Rp 19.1K
89.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$1.01Rp 17.9K
96.04%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$1.44Rp 25.4K
135.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.64€16.05
$8.97Rp 159.0K
107.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56€8.23
$2.51Rp 44.4K
280.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83€16.22
$6.02Rp 106.7K
212.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$1.00Rp 17.7K
175.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$0.64Rp 11.3K
285.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.80
$0.78Rp 13.9K
169.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$0.64Rp 11.3K
340.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.74
$0.79Rp 13.9K
155.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$1.13Rp 19.9K
63.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.30
$0.29Rp 5,224
420.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.45Rp 7,975
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06€6.08
$2.09Rp 37.0K
237.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98€6.87
$25.51Rp 451.9K
-68.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.23
$1.78Rp 31.5K
-19.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.97
$3.31Rp 58.7K
-30.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.48
$0.32Rp 5,738
800.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.45
$9.67Rp 171.3K
193.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.77
$0.48Rp 8,509
812.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.84
$0.31Rp 5,569
590.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15€25.10
$1.20Rp 21.2K
2329.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.61
$0.79Rp 13.9K
135.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$21.0KRp 371.6M
85.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$35.2KRp 624.4M
-7.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$85.0Rp 1.5M
122.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71€19.56
$4.17Rp 73.9K
444.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51€31.43
$12.16Rp 215.4K
200.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€49.59
$22.82Rp 404.3K
152.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37€18.40
$6.12Rp 108.4K
249.18%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.31
$2.89Rp 51.2K
274.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€625
$186Rp 3.3M
289.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K€13.0K
$9,358Rp 165.8M
61.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€75.5
$61.5Rp 1.1M
42.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89€31.77
$39.23Rp 694.9K
-5.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.2
$79.1Rp 1.4M
30.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$83.2Rp 1.5M
40.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,355
$253Rp 4.5M
520.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$159Rp 2.8M
665.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,711€2,335
$590Rp 10.5M
359.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,966€1,693
$327Rp 5.8M
500.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,811€6,726
$1,193Rp 21.1M
554.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,267€4,535
$725Rp 12.8M
626.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,375€2,045
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
8.33
-59.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 14, 2026
Last update for Sidoarjo: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Barcelona and $253 in Sidoarjo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $12.00 in Sidoarjo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $185 per month, with Sidoarjo 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 Sidoarjo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Sidoarjo?
Barcelona and Sidoarjo differ by about 263% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $660 including rent). Sidoarjo 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 Sidoarjo?
You'd need roughly $3,599 in Barcelona and $990 in Sidoarjo 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 Sidoarjo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,573 in Barcelona versus $253 in Sidoarjo. 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 Sidoarjo?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $186 in Sidoarjo. 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 73% 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 $660 in Sidoarjo versus $2,399 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sidoarjo but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Sidoarjo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Sidoarjo?
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 Sidoarjo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Sidoarjo 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 Sidoarjo?
Expats usually find Sidoarjo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 263% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.