🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,151 in Berat versus $2,359 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,712 in Berat versus $3,498 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,272 in Berat versus $4,638 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Berat costs roughly 51% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Berat is 14% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73ALL 953
$17.15€14.86
-31.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.42ALL 2,716
$68.1€58.9
-50.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.36ALL 680
$13.64€11.82
-38.71%
Cappuccino
$1.74ALL 142
$2.78€2.41
-37.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79ALL 146
$2.82€2.44
-36.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98ALL 79.7
$1.96€1.70
-50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.54ALL 206
$4.43€3.84
-42.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56ALL 290
$4.61€3.99
-22.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91ALL 155
$1.27€1.10
50.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13ALL 92.1
$2.13€1.85
-46.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.21ALL 179
$1.99€1.72
11.06%
Eggs
$3.02ALL 245
$3.37€2.92
-10.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.66ALL 866
$18.96€16.42
-43.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.96ALL 646
$9.53€8.26
-16.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.57ALL 1,265
$18.73€16.22
-16.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.72ALL 140
$2.65€2.29
-35.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.29ALL 186
$2.35€2.04
-2.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55ALL 126
$2.09€1.81
-25.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.40ALL 114
$2.73€2.37
-48.72%
Potato(1kg)
$0.96ALL 78.2
$1.96€1.70
-51.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15ALL 93.8
$1.81€1.56
-36.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85ALL 69.1
$1.51€1.31
-43.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74ALL 60.4
$0.89€0.77
-16.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.17ALL 339
$6.78€5.87
-38.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.11ALL 903
$7.92€6.86
40.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21ALL 98.2
$1.37€1.19
-11.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43ALL 116
$2.40€2.08
-40.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36ALL 29.51
$2.91€2.52
-87.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.52ALL 1,505
$28.66€24.82
-35.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.56ALL 289
$4.58€3.96
-22.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.23ALL 262
$2.04€1.77
58.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.72ALL 1,440
$28.72€24.87
-38.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.04ALL 166
$1.82€1.58
12.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.8KALL 3.3M
$39.3K€34.0K
3.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KALL 2.9M
$32.5K€28.1K
9.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.8ALL 6,725
$187€162
-55.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.95ALL 1,459
$22.29€19.30
-19.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.76ALL 1,524
$36.37€31.50
-48.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.4ALL 4,504
$57.5€49.82
-3.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.37ALL 2,061
$20.74€17.96
22.32%
Cinema Ticket
$9.30ALL 756
$10.77€9.33
-13.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$159ALL 12.9K
$725€628
-78.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,737ALL 141.2K
$15.2K€13.1K
-88.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.1ALL 5,453
$87.9€76.1
-23.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.96ALL 4,060
$36.81€31.88
35.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108ALL 8,734
$103€89.6
3.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131ALL 10.7K
$119€103
10.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$449ALL 36.5K
$1,524€1,319
-70.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338ALL 27.4K
$1,227€1,062
-72.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$623ALL 50.6K
$2,727€2,362
-77.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$431ALL 35.0K
$1,984€1,718
-78.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,838ALL 149.3K
$7,469€6,468
-75.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,222ALL 99.3K
$5,243€4,541
-76.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berat
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$492ALL 40.0K
$2,393€2,072
-79.42%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $449 in Berat and $1,524 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 386% 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 $68.0 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 in Barcelona?
Berat and Barcelona differ by about 105% in total monthly costs ($1,151 vs $2,359 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 386% 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: $449 in Berat versus $1,524 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 $159 in Berat versus $725 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 $1,151 in Berat versus $2,359 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 105% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.