πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,336 in Barcelona versus $978 in Surgut.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,475 in Barcelona versus $1,494 in Surgut.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,614 in Barcelona versus $2,010 in Surgut.
πLiving in Barcelona is roughly 139% more expensive than Surgut, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Surgut is 27% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Barcelona
Surgut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.45β¬14.88
$9.33β½700
87.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8β¬59.6
$38.27β½2,872
82.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.91β¬11.86
$5.62β½421
147.51%
Cappuccino
$2.74β¬2.34
$2.38β½178
15.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70β¬2.30
$1.12β½84.2
141.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03β¬1.73
$0.48β½36.06
322.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.51β¬3.85
$1.42β½106
217.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61β¬3.93
$2.61β½196
76.63%
π Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Surgut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28β¬1.09
$1.10β½82.6
16.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10β¬1.79
$0.66β½49.59
218.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99β¬1.70
$1.39β½104
43.17%
Eggs
$3.45β¬2.95
$1.76β½132
96.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.61β¬15.87
$10.67β½801
74.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.41β¬8.03
$4.91β½369
91.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.70β¬15.95
$8.65β½649
116.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61β¬2.22
$1.79β½134
45.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.39β¬2.04
$1.80β½135
32.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19β¬1.86
$1.99β½149
10.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.81β¬2.40
$2.80β½210
0.36%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03β¬1.73
$0.84β½63.1
141.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87β¬1.60
$0.66β½49.65
183.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45β¬1.24
$1.40β½105
3.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92β¬0.79
$0.70β½52.9
31.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82β¬5.82
$2.97β½223
129.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.71β¬6.58
$6.82β½512
13.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38β¬1.18
$0.96β½71.8
43.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33β¬1.99
$1.91β½143
21.99%
π Getting Around
Barcelona
Surgut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88β¬2.46
$0.49β½37.00
487.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.04β¬24.77
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43β¬3.78
$1.93β½145
129.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14β¬1.82
$0.32β½24.37
568.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.96β¬24.71
$6.36β½478
355.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90β¬1.62
$0.72β½54.2
163.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9Kβ¬32.3K
$34.3Kβ½2.6M
10.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3Kβ¬28.4K
$35.1Kβ½2.6M
-5.05%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Surgut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186β¬158
$108β½8,112
71.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.17β¬18.91
$6.10β½458
263.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.52β¬31.15
$7.76β½583
370.62%
π Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Surgut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.4β¬49.81
$35.24β½2,644
65.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.75β¬17.70
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.10β¬9.47
$4.95β½371
124.24%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Surgut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$705β¬601
$328β½24.6K
115.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2Kβ¬13.0K
$7,087β½531.8K
114.62%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Surgut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4β¬73.7
$69.2β½5,194
24.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.88β¬31.46
$43.71β½3,280
-15.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104β¬88.8
$116β½8,708
-10.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115β¬98.4
$107β½8,032
7.79%
π Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Surgut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,538β¬1,312
$442β½33.2K
247.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,242β¬1,060
$301β½22.6K
312.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,728β¬2,327
$766β½57.5K
256.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,011β¬1,716
$498β½37.4K
304.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,155β¬6,104
$1,581β½118.6K
352.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,843β¬4,131
$1,356β½101.8K
257.03%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Surgut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,474β¬2,111
$916β½68.7K
170.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
15.33
-77.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 19, 2026
Last update for Surgut: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,538 in Barcelona and $442 in Surgut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Barcelona pays 170% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $70 in Barcelona vs $38 in Surgut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $195 per month, with Surgut 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 Surgut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Surgut?
Barcelona and Surgut differ by about 139% in total monthly costs ($2,336 vs $978 including rent). Surgut is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Surgut?
Barcelona pays 170% more on average, 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 Surgut?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,538 in Barcelona versus $442 in Surgut. 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 Surgut?
Childcare runs $705 in Barcelona versus $328 in Surgut. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Surgut β a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $70.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $978 in Surgut versus $2,336 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Surgut but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Surgut the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Surgut?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Surgut safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Surgut 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 Surgut?
Expats usually find Surgut gentler on the wallet β expenses run 139% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.