🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,161 in Berat versus $2,337 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,734 in Berat versus $3,468 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,307 in Berat versus $4,599 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Berat costs roughly 50% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Berat is 14% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92ALL 974
$17.08€14.72
-30.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.35ALL 2,724
$69.2€59.7
-51.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.25ALL 674
$13.78€11.87
-40.13%
Cappuccino
$1.76ALL 143
$2.76€2.37
-36.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72ALL 141
$2.79€2.40
-38.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97ALL 79.6
$1.99€1.72
-51.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.66ALL 217
$4.36€3.76
-38.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59ALL 294
$4.74€4.09
-24.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91ALL 156
$1.29€1.11
48.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13ALL 92.0
$2.05€1.77
-44.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15ALL 176
$1.99€1.71
8.04%
Eggs
$3.02ALL 247
$3.39€2.92
-10.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.70ALL 874
$18.81€16.21
-43.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.72ALL 630
$9.36€8.07
-17.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.89ALL 1,298
$19.12€16.48
-16.89%
Apples(1kg)
$1.76ALL 144
$2.70€2.32
-34.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.40ALL 196
$2.34€2.02
2.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57ALL 129
$2.12€1.83
-25.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38ALL 113
$2.85€2.46
-51.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93ALL 75.7
$1.97€1.70
-52.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15ALL 94.0
$1.80€1.55
-36.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80ALL 65.7
$1.45€1.25
-44.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74ALL 60.5
$0.86€0.74
-13.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25ALL 348
$6.78€5.84
-37.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.11ALL 908
$7.90€6.81
40.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17ALL 95.3
$1.39€1.20
-15.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38ALL 112
$2.37€2.04
-41.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34ALL 27.67
$2.92€2.52
-88.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.86ALL 1,541
$28.69€24.72
-34.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.46ALL 283
$4.46€3.84
-22.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.15ALL 257
$2.05€1.77
53.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.40ALL 1,422
$29.55€25.46
-41.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11ALL 172
$1.82€1.56
15.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3KALL 3.2M
$38.8K€33.5K
1.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KALL 2.9M
$33.1K€28.5K
7.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.2ALL 6,795
$189€163
-56.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.57ALL 1,436
$22.80€19.65
-22.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.78ALL 1,534
$37.59€32.39
-50.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.5ALL 4,455
$57.7€49.75
-5.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.54ALL 2,086
$20.74€17.87
23.14%
Cinema Ticket
$9.62ALL 786
$10.82€9.33
-11.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$156ALL 12.8K
$728€628
-78.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,782ALL 145.6K
$14.8K€12.7K
-87.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.5ALL 5,516
$88.6€76.4
-23.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.85ALL 4,072
$36.85€31.75
35.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106ALL 8,656
$102€87.9
3.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127ALL 10.4K
$116€100
9.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$458ALL 37.5K
$1,569€1,352
-70.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338ALL 27.6K
$1,218€1,050
-72.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$600ALL 49.0K
$2,795€2,409
-78.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$428ALL 35.0K
$1,975€1,702
-78.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,948ALL 159.2K
$7,754€6,680
-74.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,325ALL 108.3K
$5,176€4,460
-74.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$483ALL 39.5K
$2,343€2,019
-79.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.52
3.39
62.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Berat: June 8, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $458 in Berat and $1,569 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 385% 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: $33.00 in Berat vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 vs $319 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 Barcelona?
Berat and Barcelona differ by about 101% in total monthly costs ($1,161 vs $2,337 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, Barcelona earns 385% 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 Berat and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $458 in Berat versus $1,569 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 $156 in Berat versus $728 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 26% 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 $1,161 in Berat versus $2,337 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 101% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.