😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $557 in Tabriz.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $917 in Tabriz.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $1,277 in Tabriz.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 325% more expensive than Tabriz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Tabriz is 58% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Tabriz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.14
$4.81$4.81
265.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$20.22$20.22
238.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.10
$2.97$2.97
373.40%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.79$0.79
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.28$1.28
-
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$1.16$1.16
139.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$1.02$1.02
174.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.99$0.99
108.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.97
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Tabriz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$0.59$0.59
110.17%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.75
$0.52$0.52
290.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.92$1.92
-
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$1.26$1.26
162.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.87
$3.38$3.38
445.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.17
$2.83$2.83
235.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.50
$9.61$9.61
99.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$0.95$0.95
177.89%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.43$1.43
71.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.23$1.23
72.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$0.57$0.57
400.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.51$0.51
300.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$0.44$0.44
320.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.27
$0.62$0.62
137.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.25$0.25
236.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.62$0.62
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.54$0.54
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.41$1.41
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.15
$2.21$2.21
223.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.79
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Tabriz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.57
$0.49$0.49
508.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.20
$20.13$20.13
45.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.96
$0.29$0.29
1486.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$0.19$0.19
989.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.13
$3.97$3.97
635.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$0.70$0.70
162.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$71.9K$71.9K
-45.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$56.2K$56.2K
-41.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Tabriz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$14.31$14.31
1212.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.75
$2.13$2.13
976.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.61
$5.68$5.68
546.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Tabriz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.41
$14.70$14.70
290.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.82
$24.96$24.96
-17.07%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.64
$1.72$1.72
550.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Tabriz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€621
$66.5$66.5
984.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€13.0K
$681$681
2107.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Tabriz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$16.59$16.59
419.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.92
$12.80$12.80
189.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$174$174
-41.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.8
$49.42$49.42
134.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Tabriz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,321
$189$189
713.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,051
$193$193
532.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,321
$874$874
208.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,734
$403$403
399.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,217
$862$862
737.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,468
$855$855
506.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Tabriz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,032
$230$230
924.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
22
-84.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Tabriz: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $189 in Tabriz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 924% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $20.00 in Tabriz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $106 per month, with Tabriz 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 Tabriz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Tabriz?
Barcelona and Tabriz differ by about 325% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $557 including rent). Tabriz is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Tabriz?
Barcelona pays 924% 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 Tabriz?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $189 in Tabriz. 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 Tabriz?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $66.5 in Tabriz. 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 200% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $557 in Tabriz versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tabriz but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Tabriz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Tabriz?
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 Tabriz safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Tabriz 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 Tabriz?
Expats usually find Tabriz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 325% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.