😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $653 in Sidoarjo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $996 in Sidoarjo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $1,340 in Sidoarjo.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 261% more expensive than in Sidoarjo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Sidoarjo is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$1.56Rp 28.2K
999.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$12.38Rp 223.5K
449.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$3.11Rp 56.2K
338.59%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$0.60Rp 10.8K
363.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$0.51Rp 9,237
452.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.28Rp 5,070
600.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$2.45Rp 44.2K
80.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$3.93Rp 71.0K
17.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$1.43Rp 25.9K
-11.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$1.14Rp 20.6K
86.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$0.93Rp 16.7K
113.98%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$1.44Rp 25.9K
134.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$9.11Rp 164.4K
108.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$2.57Rp 46.3K
270.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$6.05Rp 109.3K
209.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$0.95Rp 17.2K
178.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$0.60Rp 10.8K
291.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$0.78Rp 14.1K
167.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$0.59Rp 10.7K
362.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$0.79Rp 14.2K
148.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.12Rp 20.3K
61.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$0.32Rp 5,857
371.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.42Rp 7,567
111.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$2.14Rp 38.6K
216.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$25.11Rp 453.4K
-68.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.86Rp 33.6K
-26.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$3.31Rp 59.8K
-27.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$0.30Rp 5,413
870.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$9.93Rp 179.3K
188.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$0.44Rp 7,983
940.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$0.31Rp 5,639
558.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$1.25Rp 22.6K
2197.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$0.83Rp 15.0K
119.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$21.0KRp 378.9M
87.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$34.7KRp 626.1M
-6.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$82.6Rp 1.5M
125.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$4.25Rp 76.7K
424.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$12.46Rp 224.9K
191.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$22.68Rp 409.5K
153.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
$6.01Rp 108.5K
245.09%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$2.94Rp 53.1K
266.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$187Rp 3.4M
288.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$9,552Rp 172.4M
58.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$62.7Rp 1.1M
40.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$39.18Rp 707.4K
-6.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$76.9Rp 1.4M
34.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$82.8Rp 1.5M
43.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$254Rp 4.6M
500.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$160Rp 2.9M
666.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$589Rp 10.6M
362.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$333Rp 6.0M
496.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$1,176Rp 21.2M
535.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$696Rp 12.6M
653.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sidoarjo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Sidoarjo: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $254 in Sidoarjo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $12.00 in Sidoarjo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 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 in Sidoarjo?
Barcelona and Sidoarjo differ by about 261% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $653 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 $3,539 in Barcelona and $979 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 in Sidoarjo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $254 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 $725 in Barcelona versus $187 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 $653 in Sidoarjo versus $2,359 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 261% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.