😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,425 in Telsiai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $2,223 in Telsiai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $3,022 in Telsiai.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 64% more expensive than Telsiai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, Telsiai6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Telsiai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$13.72€11.82
24.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$68.3€58.9
1.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$9.45€8.14
45.82%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$3.71€3.19
-25.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$2.11€1.82
32.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$2.43€2.09
-18.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$5.34€4.60
-18.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$5.09€4.38
-6.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Telsiai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.53€1.32
-15.69%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.53€1.32
33.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$2.61€2.25
-23.75%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$2.82€2.43
20.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$12.42€10.70
51.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$7.26€6.26
28.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$12.44€10.72
53.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$1.52€1.31
77.63%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.61€1.39
45.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$2.10€1.81
0.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$3.30€2.84
-13.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$0.87€0.75
126.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.03€0.89
74.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$1.84€1.59
-21.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.96€0.83
-10.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$5.72€4.93
18.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$10.24€8.82
-22.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.73€1.49
-19.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$2.20€1.90
7.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Telsiai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$1.18€1.01
147.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$34.19€29.46
-16.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$3.27€2.81
36.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$1.12€0.97
83.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$16.08€13.85
83.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.71€1.47
6.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$34.5K€29.7K
12.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$32.5K€28.0K
1.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Telsiai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$243€210
-22.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$14.19€12.22
60.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$17.25€14.87
117.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Telsiai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$42.89€36.95
34.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$23.49€20.24
-11.71%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$9.44€8.13
14.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Telsiai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$622€536
17.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$9,124€7,861
61.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Telsiai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$86.5€74.5
2.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$42.01€36.20
-12.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$107€92.2
-4.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$129€111
-10.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Telsiai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$538€463
191.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$362€312
236.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$848€731
229.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$655€564
201.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$2,706€2,331
186.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$1,772€1,527
192.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Telsiai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.49
-24.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Telsiai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $538 in Telsiai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $68.0 in Telsiai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $263 per month, with Telsiai 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 Telsiai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Telsiai?
Barcelona and Telsiai differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,425 including rent). Telsiai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Telsiai?
You'd need roughly $3,505 in Barcelona and $2,137 in Telsiai 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Telsiai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $538 in Telsiai. 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 Telsiai?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $622 in Telsiai. 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 22% 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 $1,425 in Telsiai versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Telsiai but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Telsiai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Telsiai?
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 Telsiai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Telsiai 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 Telsiai?
Expats usually find Telsiai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.