🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $653 in Binjai versus $2,359 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,019 in Binjai versus $3,498 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,385 in Binjai versus $4,638 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Binjai costs roughly 72% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Binjai is 51% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Binjai
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.58Rp 28.5K
$17.15€14.86
-90.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.51Rp 225.9K
$68.1€58.9
-81.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.47Rp 62.6K
$13.64€11.82
-74.56%
Cappuccino
$1.65Rp 29.8K
$2.78€2.41
-40.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 10.0K
$2.82€2.44
-80.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,074
$1.96€1.70
-85.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.52Rp 45.5K
$4.43€3.84
-43.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45Rp 62.4K
$4.61€3.99
-25.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Binjai
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 21.1K
$1.27€1.10
-7.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12Rp 20.3K
$2.13€1.85
-47.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.7K
$1.99€1.72
-56.28%
Eggs
$1.60Rp 29.0K
$3.37€2.92
-52.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.16Rp 147.3K
$18.96€16.42
-56.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.25Rp 58.7K
$9.53€8.26
-65.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.07Rp 145.7K
$18.73€16.22
-56.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.42Rp 43.6K
$2.65€2.29
-8.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 27.0K
$2.35€2.04
-36.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87Rp 33.7K
$2.09€1.81
-10.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49Rp 26.9K
$2.73€2.37
-45.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 24.9K
$1.96€1.70
-29.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89Rp 34.2K
$1.81€1.56
4.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89Rp 16.1K
$1.51€1.31
-41.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,081
$0.89€0.77
-49.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.47Rp 44.6K
$6.78€5.87
-63.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.96Rp 396.5K
$7.92€6.86
177.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02Rp 36.5K
$1.37€1.19
47.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08Rp 55.6K
$2.40€2.08
28.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Binjai
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,319
$2.91€2.52
-90.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.06Rp 181.6K
$28.66€24.82
-64.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 10.3K
$4.58€3.96
-87.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34Rp 6,202
$2.04€1.77
-83.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.86Rp 51.6K
$28.72€24.87
-90.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82Rp 14.8K
$1.82€1.58
-54.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 451.5M
$39.3K€34.0K
-36.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6KRp 498.8M
$32.5K€28.1K
-14.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Binjai
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.5Rp 1.3M
$187€162
-62.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.37Rp 78.9K
$22.29€19.30
-80.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.87Rp 412.8K
$36.37€31.50
-37.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Binjai
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.23Rp 419.3K
$57.5€49.82
-59.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.99Rp 108.1K
$20.74€17.96
-71.12%
Cinema Ticket
$3.08Rp 55.6K
$10.77€9.33
-71.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Binjai
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.9Rp 1.7M
$725€628
-86.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,692Rp 138.9M
$15.2K€13.1K
-49.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Binjai
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.13Rp 742.5K
$87.9€76.1
-53.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.39Rp 548.7K
$36.81€31.88
-17.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.1Rp 1.2M
$103€89.6
-36.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.7Rp 1.3M
$119€103
-37.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Binjai
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$253Rp 4.6M
$1,524€1,319
-83.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$159Rp 2.9M
$1,227€1,062
-87.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$581Rp 10.5M
$2,727€2,362
-78.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$330Rp 6.0M
$1,984€1,718
-83.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,020Rp 18.4M
$7,469€6,468
-86.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$715Rp 12.9M
$5,243€4,541
-86.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Binjai
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,393€2,072
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
3.39
169.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Binjai: July 27, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $253 in Binjai and $1,524 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $13.00 in Binjai vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $319 per month, with Binjai 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
Binjai vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Binjai and in Barcelona?
Binjai and Barcelona differ by about 262% in total monthly costs ($653 vs $2,359 including rent). Binjai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Binjai compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $979 in Binjai and $3,539 in Barcelona to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Binjai and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $253 in Binjai 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 Binjai and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $94.9 in Binjai 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 51% 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 $653 in Binjai versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Binjai but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Binjai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Binjai 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 Binjai or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Binjai 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: Binjai or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Binjai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 262% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.