🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $912 in Colima versus $2,320 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,467 in Colima versus $3,426 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,022 in Colima versus $4,532 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Colima costs roughly 61% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Colima is 32% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Colima
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.38MX$112
$17.66€15.45
-63.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.42MX$551
$69.7€61.0
-54.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.83MX$137
$14.16€12.39
-44.70%
Cappuccino
$2.09MX$36.65
$2.80€2.45
-25.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77MX$13.55
$2.81€2.46
-72.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51MX$8.93
$2.06€1.81
-75.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75MX$30.63
$4.60€4.02
-61.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72MX$47.69
$4.69€4.10
-42.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Colima
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.47
$1.23€1.08
8.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.60MX$45.58
$2.03€1.78
28.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38MX$24.18
$1.98€1.73
-30.30%
Eggs
$2.25MX$39.40
$3.49€3.05
-35.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.93MX$104
$18.33€16.04
-67.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.72MX$135
$9.83€8.60
-21.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.59MX$168
$19.13€16.73
-49.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75MX$48.24
$2.73€2.38
0.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29MX$22.62
$2.38€2.09
-45.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.56
$2.08€1.82
-27.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.32
$2.75€2.41
-20.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.31
$1.96€1.72
-8.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.31MX$40.50
$1.79€1.57
29.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.33MX$23.39
$1.48€1.29
-10.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$19.01
$0.91€0.80
18.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.61MX$63.3
$7.13€6.24
-49.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.73MX$118
$7.88€6.89
-14.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$27.45
$1.38€1.21
13.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88MX$32.89
$2.39€2.09
-21.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Colima
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.55
$3.01€2.63
-80.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.07MX$335
$29.35€25.68
-35.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.32MX$40.74
$4.36€3.82
-46.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53MX$26.88
$2.13€1.86
-28.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.51MX$149
$29.60€25.90
-71.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$22.53
$1.82€1.59
-29.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9KMX$383.6K
$37.9K€33.1K
-42.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3KMX$373.2K
$32.4K€28.3K
-34.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colima
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.5MX$1,096
$189€165
-66.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.09MX$335
$22.29€19.50
-14.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.93MX$543
$37.16€32.51
-16.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Colima
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.04MX$597
$58.0€50.8
-41.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.89MX$366
$20.66€18.08
1.11%
Cinema Ticket
$4.48MX$78.5
$10.87€9.51
-58.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Colima
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$141MX$2,468
$706€618
-80.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,406MX$42.2K
$14.9K€13.0K
-83.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Colima
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.85MX$822
$89.4€78.3
-47.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.87MX$489
$36.60€32.02
-23.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.9MX$1,525
$104€91.0
-16.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.1MX$1,720
$119€104
-17.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Colima
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$511MX$8,957
$1,579€1,381
-67.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$255MX$4,473
$1,238€1,083
-79.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$326MX$5,717
$2,712€2,373
-87.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$551MX$9,656
$2,039€1,784
-73.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,527€6,585
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,239€4,584
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Colima
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$298MX$5,234
$2,364€2,068
-87.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.07
3.39
226.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Colima: July 13, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $511 in Colima and $1,579 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 692% 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: $31.00 in Colima vs $70.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $320 per month, with Colima 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
Colima vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Colima and in Barcelona?
Colima and Barcelona differ by about 154% in total monthly costs ($912 vs $2,320 including rent). Colima 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 692% 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 Colima and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $511 in Colima versus $1,579 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 Colima and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $141 in Colima versus $706 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 39% 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 $912 in Colima versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Colima but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Colima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Colima 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 Colima or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Colima 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: Colima or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Colima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 154% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.