😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $2,082 in Williston, ND.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $3,596 in Williston, ND.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $5,109 in Williston, ND.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 13% more expensive than in Williston, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Williston, ND56% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Williston, ND
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$18.62$18.62
-7.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$74.8$74.8
-8.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$10.84$10.84
25.83%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$5.10$5.10
-45.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$2.53$2.53
11.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$2.02$2.02
-2.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$5.90$5.90
-24.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$6.96$6.96
-33.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Williston, ND
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$0.94$0.94
35.11%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$2.07$2.07
2.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$4.24$4.24
-53.07%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$4.22$4.22
-20.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$30.55$30.55
-37.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$12.48$12.48
-23.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$13.98$13.98
33.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$4.90$4.90
-45.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$1.56$1.56
50.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$4.27$4.27
-51.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$4.74$4.74
-42.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$2.77$2.77
-29.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$2.90$2.90
-37.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$2.11$2.11
-28.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$2.11$2.11
-57.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$9.36$9.36
-27.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$15.18$15.18
-47.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.84$1.84
-25.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$3.30$3.30
-27.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Williston, ND
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$2.02$2.02
44.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$3.44$3.44
33.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$1.66$1.66
22.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$29.51$29.51
-2.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$1.03$1.03
76.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$29.7K$29.7K
32.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$25.3K$25.3K
28.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Williston, ND
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$185$185
0.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$53.0$53.0
-57.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$75.5$75.5
-51.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Williston, ND
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$43.45$43.45
32.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$13.59$13.59
-20.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Williston, ND
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$1,302$1,302
-44.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$23.3K$23.3K
-34.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Williston, ND
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$51.9$51.9
69.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$39.89$39.89
-7.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$86.1$86.1
20.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$112$112
5.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Williston, ND
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$958$958
58.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$850$850
44.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$2,606$2,606
4.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$2,227$2,227
-10.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$2,117$2,117
252.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$2,133$2,133
145.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Williston, ND
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
$5,794$5,794
-58.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.51
-47.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Williston, ND: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $958 in Williston, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Williston, ND pays 142% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $75.0 in Williston, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $429 per month, with Barcelona 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 Williston, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Williston, ND?
Barcelona and Williston, ND differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $2,082 including rent). Williston, ND is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 142% lower in Williston, ND. 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 in Williston, ND?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $958 in Williston, ND. 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 Williston, ND?
Childcare runs $725 in Barcelona versus $1,302 in Williston, ND. 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 Williston, ND – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,082 in Williston, ND versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Williston, ND but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Williston, ND the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Williston, ND?
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 Williston, ND safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Williston, ND 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 Williston, ND?
Expats usually find Williston, ND gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.