🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,171 in Berat versus $2,476 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,759 in Berat versus $3,545 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,348 in Berat versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Berat costs roughly 53% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Berat is 14% below, Barcelona is 81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.23ALL 808
$18.74€16.33
-45.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.66ALL 2,738
$69.5€60.6
-50.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.59ALL 678
$13.77€12.00
-37.62%
Cappuccino
$1.84ALL 145
$3.10€2.70
-40.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84ALL 146
$2.83€2.47
-34.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03ALL 81.3
$1.88€1.64
-45.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.80ALL 221
$3.98€3.47
-29.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88ALL 307
$4.53€3.95
-14.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.14ALL 169
$1.27€1.11
68.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28ALL 101
$2.16€1.88
-40.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.42ALL 191
$1.76€1.53
37.50%
Eggs
$3.19ALL 252
$5.13€4.47
-37.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.51ALL 909
$17.88€15.59
-35.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.07ALL 717
$9.65€8.41
-6.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.57ALL 1,388
$20.15€17.56
-12.80%
Apples(1kg)
$1.94ALL 153
$3.25€2.84
-40.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55ALL 202
$2.23€1.94
14.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60ALL 126
$2.60€2.27
-38.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55ALL 123
$2.76€2.40
-43.84%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99ALL 77.9
$2.21€1.93
-55.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28ALL 101
$2.12€1.85
-39.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85ALL 67.1
$1.55€1.35
-45.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77ALL 61.2
$0.95€0.83
-18.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68ALL 369
$7.34€6.40
-36.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.38ALL 899
$8.05€7.01
41.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24ALL 98.3
$1.54€1.35
-19.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48ALL 117
$2.79€2.43
-46.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40ALL 31.34
$3.11€2.71
-87.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.01ALL 1,581
$25.86€22.54
-22.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.86ALL 305
$3.27€2.85
18.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73ALL 295
$1.48€1.29
152.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.91ALL 1,494
$34.27€29.88
-44.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.23ALL 176
$1.73€1.51
28.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KALL 2.8M
$36.4K€31.7K
-2.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.2KALL 2.9M
$30.5K€26.6K
21.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9ALL 7,024
$187€163
-52.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.32ALL 1,527
$15.14€13.20
27.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.96ALL 1,656
$37.69€32.85
-44.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5ALL 4,545
$55.9€48.76
2.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.75ALL 1,481
$17.08€14.89
9.78%
Cinema Ticket
$9.88ALL 781
$11.41€9.95
-13.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$185ALL 14.6K
$997€869
-81.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,872ALL 147.9K
$16.5K€14.4K
-88.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.93ALL 3,945
$92.6€80.8
-46.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.40ALL 3,745
$41.22€35.93
14.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123ALL 9,700
$111€96.9
10.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113ALL 8,965
$125€109
-9.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500ALL 39.5K
$1,707€1,488
-70.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$344ALL 27.2K
$1,286€1,121
-73.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$731ALL 57.8K
$2,565€2,236
-71.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$475ALL 37.5K
$1,942€1,693
-75.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,852ALL 146.3K
$7,647€6,666
-75.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,255ALL 99.1K
$5,167€4,504
-75.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512ALL 40.5K
$2,348€2,047
-78.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.5
3.16
74.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Berat: September 15, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Berat and $1,707 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 359% 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: $35.00 in Berat vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $336 per month, with Berat 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
Berat vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Berat and in Barcelona?
Berat and Barcelona differ by about 112% in total monthly costs ($1,171 vs $2,476 including rent). Berat 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 359% lower in Barcelona. 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 Berat and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Berat versus $1,707 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Berat and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $185 in Berat versus $997 in Barcelona. 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 21% 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 $1,171 in Berat versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Berat but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Berat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Berat and Barcelona?
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 Berat or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Berat and Barcelona 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: Berat or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Berat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 112% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.