😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,712 in Toulon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $2,543 in Toulon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $3,374 in Toulon.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 36% more expensive than Toulon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, Toulon27% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Toulon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$17.41€15.00
-1.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$57.0€49.10
21.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$11.00€9.48
25.27%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$3.83€3.30
-27.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$2.79€2.41
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$1.91€1.64
4.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$5.65€4.87
-22.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$4.73€4.08
0.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Toulon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$0.93€0.80
38.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.16€1.00
76.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.43€1.24
39.16%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$4.06€3.50
-16.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$11.42€9.84
64.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$12.16€10.48
-23.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$17.03€14.67
12.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$1.93€1.66
39.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.82€1.57
28.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.76€1.51
20.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$3.09€2.66
-7.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$1.12€0.96
75.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.13€0.97
59.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$1.48€1.28
-2.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.37€0.32
132.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$12.24€10.54
-44.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$5.08€4.37
55.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.60€1.38
-13.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$1.37€1.18
72.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Toulon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$1.66€1.43
75.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$43.02€37.07
-33.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$5.28€4.55
-15.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$1.85€1.59
10.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$33.63€28.97
-12.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.97€1.70
-7.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$37.6K€32.4K
3.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$36.5K€31.4K
-9.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Toulon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$194€168
-2.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$28.11€24.22
-18.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$34.37€29.61
9.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Toulon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$34.57€29.78
67.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$11.66€10.05
77.87%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$14.16€12.20
-23.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Toulon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$787€678
-7.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$8,068€6,951
83.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Toulon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$86.0€74.1
3.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$44.51€38.35
-17.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$103€88.9
-1.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$105€90.8
10.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Toulon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$658€567
138.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$628€541
94.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$935€806
198.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$1,021€880
93.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$3,816€3,288
103.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$4,616€3,977
12.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Toulon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$2,439€2,102
-3.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
3.64
-6.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Toulon: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $658 in Toulon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Toulon pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $57.0 in Toulon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $269 per month, with Toulon 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 Toulon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Toulon?
Barcelona and Toulon differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,712 including rent). Toulon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Toulon earns 4% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Toulon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $658 in Toulon. 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 Toulon?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $787 in Toulon. 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 19% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,712 in Toulon versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Toulon but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Toulon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Toulon?
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 Toulon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Toulon 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 Toulon?
Expats usually find Toulon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.