😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $1,302 in Torun.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,858 in Torun.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $2,414 in Torun.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 78% more expensive than in Torun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Torun is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Torun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$9.46zł 35.90
86.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$40.14zł 152
73.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$8.16zł 30.97
73.53%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$3.30zł 12.51
-15.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$1.83zł 6.94
53.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$1.25zł 4.75
64.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$2.63zł 10.00
74.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$3.33zł 12.65
40.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Torun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.08zł 4.10
13.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$1.20zł 4.53
69.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.22zł 4.63
62.30%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$3.17zł 12.02
10.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$8.82zł 33.47
107.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$6.89zł 26.13
42.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$10.73zł 40.70
78.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$1.16zł 4.39
135.34%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$1.81zł 6.86
31.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.72zł 6.52
20.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$2.92zł 11.08
-5.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$0.90zł 3.41
117.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$1.21zł 4.58
47.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$1.19zł 4.51
24.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.58zł 2.21
56.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$4.98zł 18.90
43.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$7.32zł 27.79
7.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.22zł 4.63
13.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$1.88zł 7.15
27.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Torun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$1.05zł 3.98
186.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$24.14zł 91.6
21.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$2.15zł 8.17
102.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$0.52zł 1.98
309.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$6.81zł 25.86
334.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.73zł 6.58
5.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$33.3Kzł 126.3K
13.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$29.0Kzł 109.9K
11.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Torun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$219zł 833
-13.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$8.69zł 32.98
156.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$16.67zł 63.3
122.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Torun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$48.23zł 183
20.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$23.37zł 88.7
-11.60%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$8.33zł 31.62
30.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Torun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$220zł 835
220.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$9,563zł 36.3K
55.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Torun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$93.6zł 355
-4.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$30.82zł 117
18.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$76.9zł 292
35.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$95.2zł 361
25.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Torun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$536zł 2,034
194.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$469zł 1,780
163.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$774zł 2,938
250.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$650zł 2,468
213.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$3,215zł 12.2K
134.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$2,220zł 8,424
135.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Torun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$1,825zł 6,925
29.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.78
-50.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Torun: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $536 in Torun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 30% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $40.00 in Torun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $213 per month, with Torun 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 Torun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Torun?
Barcelona and Torun differ by about 78% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $1,302 including rent). Torun is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Torun?
Average pay runs 30% 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 Torun?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $536 in Torun. 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 Torun?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $220 in Torun. 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 50% 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 $1,302 in Torun versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Torun but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Torun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Torun?
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 Torun safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Torun 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 Torun?
Expats usually find Torun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.