๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $679 in Criciuma versus $2,356 in Barcelona.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,003 in Criciuma versus $3,455 in Barcelona.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,328 in Criciuma versus $4,553 in Barcelona.
๐Living in Criciuma costs roughly 71% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Criciuma is 50% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Criciuma
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.84R$24.10
$17.64โฌ15.01
-72.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.99R$110
$68.1โฌ58.0
-67.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.28R$26.28
$13.96โฌ11.88
-62.18%
Cappuccino
$1.25R$6.22
$2.76โฌ2.35
-54.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85R$4.25
$2.76โฌ2.35
-69.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57R$2.85
$1.97โฌ1.67
-71.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.64R$8.17
$4.53โฌ3.85
-63.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51R$7.52
$4.53โฌ3.85
-66.67%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Criciuma
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86R$4.29
$1.24โฌ1.05
-30.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29R$6.41
$2.04โฌ1.73
-36.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.98R$4.86
$1.91โฌ1.63
-48.69%
Eggs
$1.77R$8.82
$3.39โฌ2.89
-47.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.97R$39.71
$18.34โฌ15.60
-56.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.21R$15.96
$9.39โฌ7.99
-65.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.84R$34.06
$18.90โฌ16.08
-63.81%
Apples(1kg)
$1.86R$9.26
$2.63โฌ2.23
-29.28%
Banana(1kg)
$0.90R$4.46
$2.40โฌ2.04
-62.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.85R$4.21
$2.12โฌ1.80
-59.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25R$6.25
$2.70โฌ2.30
-53.70%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98R$4.89
$2.05โฌ1.75
-52.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02R$5.08
$1.78โฌ1.52
-42.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70R$3.48
$1.47โฌ1.25
-52.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63R$3.12
$0.91โฌ0.77
-30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54R$12.67
$7.01โฌ5.97
-63.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.91R$24.45
$7.59โฌ6.46
-35.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03R$5.13
$1.44โฌ1.22
-28.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25R$6.24
$2.32โฌ1.97
-46.12%
๐ Getting Around
Criciuma
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87R$4.34
$2.94โฌ2.50
-70.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.00R$159
$29.38โฌ25.00
8.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42R$2.08
$4.53โฌ3.85
-90.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02R$5.06
$2.14โฌ1.82
-52.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.13R$10.60
$28.97โฌ24.65
-92.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09R$5.43
$1.89โฌ1.61
-42.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9KR$99.1K
$39.0Kโฌ33.2K
-49.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KR$127.3K
$32.4Kโฌ27.6K
-21.20%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Criciuma
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$58.4R$291
$189โฌ161
-69.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.10R$70.2
$22.24โฌ18.92
-36.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.81R$104
$36.57โฌ31.12
-43.10%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Criciuma
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.92R$124
$58.0โฌ49.38
-57.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.63R$108
$21.30โฌ18.13
1.55%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84R$39.05
$11.01โฌ9.37
-28.79%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Criciuma
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$126R$628
$731โฌ622
-82.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,500R$7,469
$14.8Kโฌ12.6K
-89.89%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Criciuma
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.63R$123
$89.3โฌ76.0
-72.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.13R$150
$37.38โฌ31.81
-19.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.0R$339
$105โฌ89.0
-35.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.62R$157
$116โฌ99.0
-72.81%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Criciuma
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$221R$1,101
$1,551โฌ1,320
-85.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$198R$985
$1,216โฌ1,035
-83.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$296R$1,475
$2,799โฌ2,382
-89.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$247R$1,228
$2,008โฌ1,709
-87.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,189R$5,921
$7,161โฌ6,094
-83.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$641R$3,195
$5,021โฌ4,273
-87.22%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Criciuma
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$320R$1,595
$2,462โฌ2,095
-86.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.4
3.39
147.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Criciuma: April 14, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $221 in Criciuma and $1,551 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐBarcelona pays 669% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $22 in Criciuma vs $68 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $150 vs $316 per month, with Criciuma 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
Criciuma vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Criciuma and Barcelona?
Criciuma and Barcelona differ by about 247% in total monthly costs ($679 vs $2,356 including rent). Criciuma is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Barcelona earns 669% 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 Criciuma and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $221 in Criciuma versus $1,551 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 Criciuma and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $126 in Criciuma versus $731 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 110% 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 $679 in Criciuma versus $2,356 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Criciuma but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Criciuma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Criciuma and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Criciuma or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Criciuma 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: Criciuma or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Criciuma gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 247% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.