Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Sumba Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Sumba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,441 in Barcelona versus $207 in Sumba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,477 in Barcelona versus $281 in Sumba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,513 in Barcelona versus $354 in Sumba.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 1077% more expensive than in Sumba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Sumba is 85% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.35 €16.31

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.9 €59.5

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.75 €12.22

Cappuccino

$3.17 €2.82

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 €2.56

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 €1.73

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.89 €3.46

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.50 €4.00

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 €1.14

$2.34 FOK 15.42

-45.30%

White Bread (500g)

$2.07 €1.84

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 €1.59

Eggs

$5.04 €4.48

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 €15.37

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.41 €8.36

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.40 €17.24

Apples (1kg)

$3.18 €2.82

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 €1.86

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 €2.35

Tomato (1kg)

$2.83 €2.52

Potato (1kg)

$2.20 €1.96

Onion (1kg)

$2.14 €1.90

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 €1.42

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 €0.83

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.25 €6.45

$10.83 FOK 71.4

-33.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 €7.11

$12.24 FOK 80.7

-34.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 €1.31

$2.33 FOK 15.35

-36.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 €2.46

$1.80 FOK 11.86

53.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 €2.61

$4.64 FOK 30.55

-36.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.97 €23.08

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 €2.72

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 €1.34

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.08 €30.29

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.71 €1.52

$1.96 FOK 12.91

-12.76%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.3K €32.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.6K €27.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$183 €163

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.76 €13.12

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.68 €32.60

$59.8 FOK 394

-38.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 €49.63

$38.17 FOK 252

46.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.50 €14.67

Cinema Ticket

$11.30 €10.04

$15.33 FOK 101

-26.29%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$983 €873

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.7K €14.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.9 €81.7

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 €35.68

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 €96.4

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 €109

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,689 €1,501

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 €1,176

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,617 €2,326

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,924 €1,710

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,336 €6,520

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,253 €4,669

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,313 €2,056

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.16

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

Last update for Barcelona: September 27, 2026

Last update for Sumba: September 26, 2026

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 Sumba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barcelona and Sumba differ by about 1077% in total monthly costs ($2,441 vs $207 including rent). Sumba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,661 in Barcelona and $311 in Sumba 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 420% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,441 per month in Barcelona versus $207 in Sumba – a 1077% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $207 in Sumba versus $2,441 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sumba but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Sumba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Barcelona and Sumba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Sumba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1077% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.