😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Barcelona versus $1,241 in Veria.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,458 in Barcelona versus $2,011 in Veria.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,601 in Barcelona versus $2,780 in Veria.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 87% more expensive than in Veria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 73% above, Veria is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Veria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19€15.07
$13.09€11.48
31.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7€62.0
$58.8€51.5
20.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.02€12.30
$9.00€7.89
55.78%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.44
$4.29€3.76
-35.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.44
$1.71€1.50
62.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.79
$0.61€0.53
236.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.52€3.96
$5.36€4.70
-15.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67€4.10
$5.75€5.04
-18.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Veria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.13
$1.47€1.29
-12.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14€1.87
$1.34€1.17
59.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.93€1.70
$1.75€1.54
10.29%
Eggs
$3.49€3.06
$4.14€3.63
-15.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.52€16.24
$11.40€9.99
62.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.36
$9.77€8.56
-2.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.90€16.57
$13.25€11.61
42.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62€2.30
$2.28€2.00
14.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.05
$1.86€1.63
25.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.12€0.98
85.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.50
$1.92€1.69
48.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$1.13€0.99
73.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$0.90€0.79
105.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53€1.34
$1.04€0.91
47.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.79
$0.45€0.39
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.77€5.94
$4.52€3.96
49.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.79€6.83
$11.29€9.90
-31.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.59€1.40
-13.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32€2.04
$2.37€2.08
-2.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Veria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.00€2.63
$1.60€1.40
87.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.62€25.10
$46.01€40.34
-37.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€4.01
$7.02€6.16
-34.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.91
$13.53€11.86
118.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80€1.57
$2.19€1.92
-17.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K€33.7K
$34.0K€29.8K
13.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K€29.2K
$29.0K€25.4K
14.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Veria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185€162
$126€111
46.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.68€19.89
$23.22€20.36
-2.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.78€32.25
$29.32€25.71
25.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Veria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.8€50.7
$34.87€30.58
65.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.19€18.58
$26.70€23.41
-20.64%
Cinema Ticket
$10.83€9.49
$9.30€8.15
16.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Veria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$727€637
$347€304
109.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K€12.9K
$5,446€4,775
170.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Veria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.6€76.8
$112€97.9
-21.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.37€32.76
$39.75€34.85
-5.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€90.5
$102€89.2
1.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€104
$94.8€83.1
25.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Veria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,560€1,368
$346€304
350.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221€1,071
$288€252
324.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,742€2,404
$646€566
324.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,746
$571€501
248.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,489€6,567
$1,012€887
640.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,207€4,566
$2,358€2,068
120.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Veria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,355€2,064
$1,010€885
133.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.34
-21.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 21, 2026
Last update for Veria: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,560 in Barcelona and $346 in Veria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 133% 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: $71.0 in Barcelona vs $59.0 in Veria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $261 per month, with Veria 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 Veria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Veria?
Barcelona and Veria differ by about 87% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $1,241 including rent). Veria is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Veria?
Average pay runs 133% 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 Veria?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,560 in Barcelona versus $346 in Veria. 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 Veria?
Childcare runs $727 in Barcelona versus $347 in Veria. 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 $1,241 in Veria versus $2,316 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Veria but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Veria the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Veria?
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 Veria safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Veria 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 Veria?
Expats usually find Veria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.