Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Tepic Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Tepic

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,482 in Barcelona versus $1,198 in Tepic.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in Barcelona versus $1,980 in Tepic.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $2,762 in Tepic.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 107% more expensive than in Tepic, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Tepic is 13% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Tepic
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42 €15.83
$14.61 MX$247
26.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4 €59.6
$49.08 MX$829
41.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.05 €12.07
$9.66 MX$163
45.45%
Cappuccino
$3.11 €2.67
$3.48 MX$58.8
-10.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 €2.54
$1.79 MX$30.24
65.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 €1.68
$1.32 MX$22.22
47.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.99 €3.43
$2.89 MX$48.81
38.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62 €3.97
$5.51 MX$93.0
-16.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Tepic
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 €1.14
$1.67 MX$28.22
-20.96%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 €1.81
$2.73 MX$46.02
-22.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$1.72 MX$29.09
6.40%
Eggs
$5.16 €4.44
$2.25 MX$37.91
129.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.56 €15.09
$5.25 MX$88.7
234.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.50 €8.17
$10.24 MX$173
-7.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.93 €17.13
$12.28 MX$207
62.30%
Apples (1kg)
$3.17 €2.72
$3.02 MX$51.1
4.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 €1.90
$1.78 MX$29.98
24.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 €2.24
$2.09 MX$35.21
24.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.85 €2.45
$1.97 MX$33.30
44.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.17 €1.87
$2.18 MX$36.84
-0.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.81
$1.93 MX$32.65
9.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 €1.39
$1.47 MX$24.88
10.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.76
$1.19 MX$20.05
-26.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17 €6.16
$4.80 MX$81.0
49.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.33 €7.16
$11.36 MX$192
-26.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.92 MX$15.56
63.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 €2.36
$3.60 MX$60.8
-23.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Tepic
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.14 €2.70
$0.86 MX$14.51
265.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.25 €22.56
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.22 €2.77
$2.38 MX$40.13
35.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 €1.30
$1.50 MX$25.32
0.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.26 €30.30
$12.71 MX$215
177.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.53 MX$25.82
14.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K €31.5K
$23.0K MX$388.1K
59.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K €27.2K
$26.1K MX$440.9K
21.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Tepic
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 €161
$46.23 MX$781
304.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10 €12.97
$13.37 MX$226
12.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.60 €32.31
$32.63 MX$551
15.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Tepic
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.5 €47.68
$36.98 MX$624
50.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.74 €14.38
$21.38 MX$361
-21.70%
Cinema Ticket
$11.71 €10.06
$7.21 MX$122
62.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Tepic
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,011 €869
$268 MX$4,522
277.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.1K €14.7K
$11.5K MX$193.5K
48.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Tepic
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4 €78.5
$62.2 MX$1,049
47.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00 €35.23
$44.80 MX$756
-8.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 €95.0
$116 MX$1,953
-4.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 €108
$92.9 MX$1,569
35.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Tepic
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,704 €1,464
$664 MX$11.2K
156.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,299 €1,117
$418 MX$7,059
210.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,588 €2,224
$1,100 MX$18.6K
135.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,929 €1,658
$836 MX$14.1K
130.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,732 €6,644
$1,989 MX$33.6K
288.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,384 €4,626
$1,244 MX$21.0K
332.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Tepic
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,374 €2,040
$709 MX$12.0K
234.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.16
11.68
-72.95%

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

Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026

Last update for Tepic: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Barcelona and $664 in Tepic. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 235% 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 $49.00 in Tepic for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $273 per month, with Tepic 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 Tepic: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Tepic?
Barcelona and Tepic differ by about 107% in total monthly costs ($2,482 vs $1,198 including rent). Tepic is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Tepic?
Average pay runs 235% 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 Tepic?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,704 in Barcelona versus $664 in Tepic. 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 Tepic?
Childcare runs $1,011 in Barcelona versus $268 in Tepic. 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 Tepic – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,198 in Tepic versus $2,482 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tepic but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Tepic the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Tepic?
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 Tepic safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Tepic 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 Tepic?
Expats usually find Tepic gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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