😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,482 in Barcelona versus $2,469 in Sudbury.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in Barcelona versus $3,687 in Sudbury.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $4,904 in Sudbury.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 1% more expensive than in Sudbury, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona80% above, Sudbury79% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Sudbury
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42€15.88
$18.32CA$25.41
0.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4€59.8
$72.7CA$101
-4.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.05€12.11
$11.07CA$15.35
26.92%
Cappuccino
$3.11€2.68
$3.02CA$4.19
2.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.55
$2.10CA$2.91
40.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.69
$1.68CA$2.34
16.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.99€3.44
$5.72CA$7.94
-30.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€3.98
$6.80CA$9.43
-32.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Sudbury
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.14
$2.52CA$3.50
-47.62%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.82
$2.03CA$2.81
3.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$4.64CA$6.43
-60.56%
Eggs
$5.16€4.45
$3.85CA$5.34
34.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.56€15.14
$11.42CA$15.84
53.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.50€8.19
$13.91CA$19.29
-31.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.93€17.18
$12.82CA$17.78
55.46%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.73
$4.36CA$6.05
-27.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.91
$1.27CA$1.76
74.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61€2.25
$3.71CA$5.14
-29.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$4.21CA$5.84
-32.30%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$3.91CA$5.42
-44.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.81
$2.67CA$3.71
-20.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62€1.39
$1.91CA$2.64
-15.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$2.29CA$3.17
-61.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17€6.18
$14.42CA$20.00
-50.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.33€7.18
$14.36CA$19.92
-41.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$3.07CA$4.26
-51.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75€2.37
$2.84CA$3.94
-3.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Sudbury
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.14€2.70
$2.98CA$4.13
5.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.25€22.63
$72.7CA$101
-63.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22€2.78
$3.29CA$4.56
-2.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.30
$2.28CA$3.17
-33.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.26€30.39
$34.97CA$48.50
0.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.51
$1.17CA$1.63
49.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.6K
$28.4KCA$39.3K
29.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K€27.3K
$19.0KCA$26.4K
66.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Sudbury
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€161
$176CA$244
6.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10€13.01
$52.5CA$72.9
-71.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.60€32.41
$73.4CA$102
-48.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Sudbury
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5€47.83
$59.3CA$82.2
-6.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.74€14.43
$14.24CA$19.75
17.56%
Cinema Ticket
$11.71€10.09
$11.95CA$16.58
-2.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Sudbury
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,011€871
$547CA$758
84.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.1K€14.7K
$8,573CA$11.9K
99.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Sudbury
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4€78.8
$58.2CA$80.7
56.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00€35.34
$33.62CA$46.62
21.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€95.3
$106CA$147
4.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126€109
$148CA$205
-14.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Sudbury
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,704€1,469
$1,378CA$1,911
23.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,299€1,120
$1,183CA$1,641
9.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,588€2,231
$1,975CA$2,739
31.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,929€1,663
$1,964CA$2,724
-1.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,732€6,665
$2,679CA$3,715
188.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,384€4,641
$1,919CA$2,661
180.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Sudbury
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,374€2,046
$2,963CA$4,110
-19.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
5.01
-36.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Last update for Sudbury: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Barcelona and $1,378 in Sudbury. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sudbury pays 25% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $73.0 in Sudbury for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $389 per month, with Barcelona 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 Sudbury: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Sudbury?
Barcelona and Sudbury differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($2,482 vs $2,469 including rent). Sudbury is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 25% lower in Sudbury. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Sudbury?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,704 in Barcelona versus $1,378 in Sudbury. 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 Sudbury?
Childcare runs $1,011 in Barcelona versus $547 in Sudbury. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 17% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Sudbury is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Sudbury?
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 Sudbury safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Sudbury 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 Sudbury?
Expats usually find Sudbury gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.