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: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $216 in Sumba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $287 in Sumba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $358 in Sumba.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 998% more expensive than Sumba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Sumba is 84% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.58 €15.14

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.4 €58.9

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.06 €12.10

Cappuccino

$2.78 €2.39

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

$2.80 €2.41

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 €1.78

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.46 €3.84

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 €3.97

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 €1.07

$2.37 FOK 15.19

-47.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 €1.75

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 €1.65

Eggs

$3.31 €2.85

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.43 €15.87

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.49 €8.17

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.16 €16.50

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 €2.27

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 €2.11

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 €1.83

Tomato (1kg)

$2.85 €2.45

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 €1.75

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 €1.59

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 €1.27

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.73

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.14 €6.15

$10.66 FOK 68.5

-33.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.88 €6.79

$12.20 FOK 78.3

-35.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.19

$2.29 FOK 14.69

-39.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 €1.99

$1.91 FOK 12.25

20.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.98 €2.57

$4.52 FOK 28.99

-34.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.26 €25.20

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 €3.96

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 €1.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.18 €25.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 €1.58

$1.96 FOK 12.60

-6.12%

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

$39.0K €33.6K

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

$32.7K €28.2K

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

$188 €162

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

$22.93 €19.75

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.71 €31.61

$61.1 FOK 392

-39.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.4 €49.41

$39.25 FOK 252

46.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.70 €17.82

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 €9.64

$15.61 FOK 100

-28.32%

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

$721 €621

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K €13.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.2 €74.2

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.07 €31.92

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 €87.9

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 €99.8

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,534 €1,321

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,220 €1,051

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,696 €2,321

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,013 €1,734

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,220 €6,217

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,189 €4,468

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,359 €2,032

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.39

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

Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sumba: May 31, 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 998% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $216 including rent). Sumba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,550 in Barcelona and $323 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 402% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,367 per month in Barcelona versus $216 in Sumba – a 998% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $216 in Sumba versus $2,367 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 998% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.