😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,482 in Barcelona versus $810 in Surat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in Barcelona versus $850 in Surat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $890 in Surat.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 207% more expensive than in Surat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Surat is 41% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Surat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42€15.88
$3.14₹300
486.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4€59.8
$10.65₹1,018
551.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.05€12.11
$3.24₹310
333.64%
Cappuccino
$3.11€2.68
$1.82₹174
70.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.55
$0.35₹33.40
745.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.69
$0.15₹14.72
1200.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.99€3.44
$2.99₹286
33.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€3.98
$3.12₹298
48.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Surat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.14
$0.70₹67.1
88.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.82
$0.48₹45.51
339.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$0.66₹62.7
177.27%
Eggs
$5.16€4.45
$0.91₹87.1
467.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.56€15.14
$4.66₹445
276.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.50€8.19
$2.87₹274
231.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.93€17.18
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.73
$1.74₹166
82.18%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.91
$0.63₹60.0
250.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61€2.25
$0.79₹75.3
230.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$0.58₹55.0
391.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$0.36₹34.33
502.78%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.81
$0.44₹41.64
379.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62€1.39
$0.49₹46.89
230.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$0.30₹28.57
193.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17€6.18
$5.15₹492
39.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.33€7.18
$7.52₹718
10.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.84₹176
-18.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75€2.37
$3.16₹302
-12.97%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.10₹583
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Surat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.14€2.70
$0.25₹23.93
1156.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.25€22.63
$5.43₹518
383.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22€2.78
$0.51₹48.79
531.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.30
$0.20₹19.10
655.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.26€30.39
$1.08₹103
3164.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.51
$1.12₹107
56.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.6K
$12.0K₹1.1M
206.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K€27.3K
$18.9K₹1.8M
67.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Surat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€161
$37.30₹3,564
401.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10€13.01
$3.69₹353
309.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.60€32.41
$7.26₹694
417.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Surat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5€47.83
$18.83₹1,799
194.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.74€14.43
$5.23₹499
220.08%
Cinema Ticket
$11.71€10.09
$2.98₹285
292.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Surat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,011€871
$33.20₹3,172
2944.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.1K€14.7K
$902₹86.2K
1792.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Surat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4€78.8
$22.84₹2,182
300.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00€35.34
$25.27₹2,414
62.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€95.3
$40.92₹3,910
170.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126€109
$32.45₹3,100
288.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Surat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,704€1,469
$225₹21.5K
657.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,299€1,120
$511₹48.8K
154.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,588€2,231
$385₹36.8K
572.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,929€1,663
$202₹19.3K
853.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,732€6,665
$670₹64.0K
1054.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,384€4,641
$311₹29.7K
1631.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Surat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,374€2,046
$314₹30.0K
656.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
9.17
-65.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Last update for Surat: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Barcelona and $225 in Surat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 657% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $11.00 in Surat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $103 per month, with Surat 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 Surat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Surat?
Barcelona and Surat differ by about 207% in total monthly costs ($2,482 vs $810 including rent). Surat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Surat?
Average pay runs 657% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Surat?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,704 in Barcelona versus $225 in Surat. 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 Surat?
Childcare runs $1,011 in Barcelona versus $33.20 in Surat. 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 224% 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 $810 in Surat versus $2,482 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Surat but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Surat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Surat?
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 Surat safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Surat 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 Surat?
Expats usually find Surat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 207% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.