🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,307 in Constanta versus $2,336 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,122 in Constanta versus $3,475 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,937 in Constanta versus $4,614 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Constanta costs roughly 44% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Constanta is 2% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Constanta
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.00RON 60.8
$17.45€14.88
-19.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4RON 297
$69.8€59.6
-2.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.00RON 34.71
$13.91€11.86
-42.49%
Cappuccino
$3.29RON 14.29
$2.74€2.34
20.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89RON 8.19
$2.70€2.30
-30.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30RON 5.63
$2.03€1.73
-35.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34RON 10.15
$4.51€3.85
-48.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27RON 14.19
$4.61€3.93
-29.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Constanta
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77RON 7.70
$1.28€1.09
38.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28RON 5.57
$2.10€1.79
-39.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.86RON 8.07
$1.99€1.70
-6.53%
Eggs
$3.32RON 14.40
$3.45€2.95
-3.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.63RON 41.78
$18.61€15.87
-48.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.74RON 29.26
$9.41€8.03
-28.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.60RON 50.4
$18.70€15.95
-37.97%
Apples(1kg)
$1.47RON 6.38
$2.61€2.22
-43.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79RON 7.78
$2.39€2.04
-25.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78RON 7.72
$2.19€1.86
-18.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50RON 10.83
$2.81€2.40
-11.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02RON 4.41
$2.03€1.73
-49.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.11RON 4.81
$1.87€1.60
-40.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98RON 4.25
$1.45€1.24
-32.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86RON 3.72
$0.92€0.79
-6.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.46RON 28.04
$6.82€5.82
-5.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.07RON 30.68
$7.71€6.58
-8.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10RON 4.75
$1.38€1.18
-20.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86RON 8.06
$2.33€1.99
-20.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Constanta
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.66RON 2.85
$2.88€2.46
-77.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.52RON 80.4
$29.04€24.77
-36.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94RON 4.08
$4.43€3.78
-78.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74RON 3.22
$2.14€1.82
-65.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.94RON 34.46
$28.96€24.71
-72.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.67RON 7.25
$1.90€1.62
-12.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KRON 119.5K
$37.9K€32.3K
-27.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5KRON 119.4K
$33.3K€28.4K
-17.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Constanta
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185RON 803
$186€158
-0.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.06RON 34.98
$22.17€18.91
-63.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.29RON 40.30
$36.52€31.15
-74.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Constanta
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.4RON 253
$58.4€49.81
-0.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.20RON 157
$20.75€17.70
74.46%
Cinema Ticket
$7.85RON 34.05
$11.10€9.47
-29.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Constanta
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$542RON 2,352
$705€601
-23.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,256RON 35.8K
$15.2K€13.0K
-45.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Constanta
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3RON 305
$86.4€73.7
-18.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.4RON 280
$36.88€31.46
74.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.0RON 325
$104€88.8
-27.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.2RON 352
$115€98.4
-29.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Constanta
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$582RON 2,526
$1,538€1,312
-62.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458RON 1,987
$1,242€1,060
-63.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,129RON 4,899
$2,728€2,327
-58.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$866RON 3,760
$2,011€1,716
-56.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,648RON 11.5K
$7,155€6,104
-62.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,052RON 8,905
$4,843€4,131
-57.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Constanta
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$994RON 4,313
$2,474€2,111
-59.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.78
3.39
100.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Constanta: April 22, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $582 in Constanta and $1,538 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 149% 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: $68 in Constanta vs $70 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $318 per month, with Constanta 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
Constanta vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Constanta and Barcelona?
Constanta and Barcelona differ by about 79% in total monthly costs ($1,307 vs $2,336 including rent). Constanta 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 149% 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 Constanta and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $582 in Constanta versus $1,538 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 Constanta and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $542 in Constanta versus $705 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 $1,500 per month?
At $1,307 in Constanta versus $2,336 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Constanta but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Constanta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Constanta 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 Constanta or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Constanta 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: Constanta or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Constanta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.