🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $725 in Carthage versus $2,495 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,146 in Carthage versus $3,550 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,567 in Carthage versus $4,605 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Carthage costs roughly 71% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Carthage is 47% below, Barcelona is 82% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Carthage
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56TND 13.19
$18.39€15.81
-75.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.03TND 63.7
$69.2€59.5
-68.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.96TND 17.23
$14.13€12.15
-57.82%
Cappuccino
$1.06TND 3.06
$3.13€2.69
-66.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80TND 2.32
$3.02€2.59
-73.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30TND 0.87
$1.96€1.69
-84.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69TND 4.88
$4.00€3.44
-57.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12TND 6.14
$4.76€4.09
-55.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Carthage
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.51TND 1.48
$1.25€1.07
-59.20%
White Bread(500g)
$0.25TND 0.72
$2.16€1.86
-88.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.81TND 5.23
$1.69€1.45
7.10%
Eggs
$1.70TND 4.92
$4.93€4.24
-65.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.42TND 30.15
$17.88€15.37
-41.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.87TND 16.97
$9.61€8.26
-38.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.80TND 42.81
$19.34€16.63
-23.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.42TND 4.10
$3.24€2.78
-56.17%
Banana(1kg)
$3.86TND 11.16
$2.18€1.87
77.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.15TND 3.31
$2.67€2.30
-56.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74TND 2.15
$2.77€2.38
-73.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84TND 2.44
$2.21€1.90
-61.99%
Onion(1kg)
$0.66TND 1.91
$2.19€1.88
-69.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51TND 1.49
$1.52€1.31
-66.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31TND 0.91
$0.92€0.79
-66.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.75TND 10.85
$7.12€6.12
-47.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.72TND 19.43
$8.14€6.99
-17.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32TND 3.82
$1.50€1.29
-12.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31TND 3.80
$2.78€2.39
-52.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Carthage
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45TND 1.29
$3.15€2.71
-85.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.31TND 41.39
$26.99€23.21
-46.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.30TND 0.85
$3.25€2.79
-90.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33TND 0.95
$1.50€1.29
-78.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.89TND 5.47
$34.89€30.00
-94.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90TND 2.61
$1.75€1.50
-48.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.1KTND 119.0K
$36.7K€31.5K
12.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7KTND 106.0K
$30.9K€26.6K
18.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Carthage
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$47.11TND 136
$188€161
-74.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.59TND 24.84
$15.44€13.27
-44.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.79TND 60.1
$37.80€32.49
-45.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Carthage
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.90TND 95.2
$57.2€49.16
-42.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.55TND 39.19
$16.80€14.44
-19.35%
Cinema Ticket
$5.09TND 14.71
$11.58€9.95
-56.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Carthage
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$114TND 330
$1,003€862
-88.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,928TND 11.4K
$17.0K€14.6K
-76.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Carthage
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.1TND 148
$89.2€76.7
-42.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.9TND 193
$40.87€35.14
63.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112TND 324
$110€94.5
1.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.8TND 176
$123€105
-50.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Carthage
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$219TND 632
$1,673€1,438
-86.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$164TND 474
$1,331€1,145
-87.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$218TND 631
$2,596€2,232
-91.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$290TND 837
$1,950€1,676
-85.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$989TND 2,861
$7,573€6,511
-86.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$648TND 1,875
$5,370€4,617
-87.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Carthage
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$278TND 803
$2,402€2,065
-88.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.28
3.16
225.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Carthage: August 30, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $219 in Carthage and $1,673 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 765% 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: $22.00 in Carthage vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $332 per month, with Carthage 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
Carthage vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Carthage and in Barcelona?
Carthage and Barcelona differ by about 244% in total monthly costs ($725 vs $2,495 including rent). Carthage 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 765% 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 Carthage and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $219 in Carthage versus $1,673 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 Carthage and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $114 in Carthage versus $1,003 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 68% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $725 in Carthage versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Carthage but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Carthage the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Carthage 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 Carthage or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Carthage 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: Carthage or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Carthage gentler on the wallet – expenses run 244% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.