😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $668 in Sidoarjo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,010 in Sidoarjo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $1,353 in Sidoarjo.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 251% more expensive than Sidoarjo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Sidoarjo is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$1.51Rp 26.2K
1066.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$12.16Rp 210.7K
464.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$3.03Rp 52.6K
353.80%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$0.59Rp 10.2K
367.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$0.47Rp 8,162
491.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.26Rp 4,468
688.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$2.44Rp 42.3K
88.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$4.02Rp 69.7K
14.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.37Rp 23.8K
-6.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$1.14Rp 19.7K
85.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.01Rp 17.6K
95.05%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$1.44Rp 25.0K
138.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$9.11Rp 157.9K
106.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$2.52Rp 43.6K
275.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$5.97Rp 103.4K
218.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$0.94Rp 16.2K
189.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$0.59Rp 10.2K
301.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$0.79Rp 13.6K
163.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$0.60Rp 10.4K
360.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$0.83Rp 14.4K
137.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.12Rp 19.5K
59.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$0.32Rp 5,558
371.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.43Rp 7,412
109.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$2.12Rp 36.8K
218.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$26.21Rp 454.2K
-71.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.78Rp 30.9K
-19.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$3.31Rp 57.3K
-27.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$0.32Rp 5,586
846.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$9.66Rp 167.4K
193.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$0.45Rp 7,779
884.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$0.31Rp 5,408
561.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$1.26Rp 21.8K
2227.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$0.79Rp 13.7K
139.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$20.9KRp 361.5M
85.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$34.7KRp 601.8M
-6.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$82.5Rp 1.4M
128.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$4.25Rp 73.6K
422.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$12.12Rp 210.0K
203.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$23.33Rp 404.3K
148.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$5.99Rp 103.9K
250.42%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$2.97Rp 51.6K
272.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$189Rp 3.3M
284.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$9,440Rp 163.6M
61.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$62.6Rp 1.1M
41.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$39.43Rp 683.4K
-6.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$77.1Rp 1.3M
33.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$84.2Rp 1.5M
41.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$259Rp 4.5M
489.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$156Rp 2.7M
681.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$582Rp 10.1M
379.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$329Rp 5.7M
516.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$1,242Rp 21.5M
471.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$762Rp 13.2M
536.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
-
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Sidoarjo: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $259 in Sidoarjo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $12.00 in Sidoarjo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $186 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 251% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $668 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 $3,512 in Barcelona and $1,002 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: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $259 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 $189 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 72% 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 $668 in Sidoarjo versus $2,341 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 251% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.