🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Debrecen versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,854 in Debrecen versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,500 in Debrecen versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Debrecen costs roughly 48% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Debrecen is 10% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Debrecen
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.58Ft 3,290
$17.61€15.04
-39.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.69Ft 14.2K
$68.7€58.7
-33.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.28Ft 2,886
$13.75€11.74
-32.51%
Cappuccino
$1.71Ft 530
$2.76€2.36
-38.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16Ft 362
$2.78€2.38
-58.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76Ft 236
$2.05€1.75
-62.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.12Ft 348
$4.61€3.93
-75.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05Ft 637
$4.59€3.92
-55.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Debrecen
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08Ft 335
$1.28€1.09
-15.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62Ft 502
$2.11€1.80
-23.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07Ft 643
$1.97€1.68
5.08%
Eggs
$2.68Ft 832
$3.44€2.94
-22.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.26Ft 2,257
$18.83€16.08
-61.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63Ft 1,750
$9.45€8.07
-40.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.20Ft 3,171
$19.01€16.24
-46.34%
Apples(1kg)
$1.30Ft 405
$2.72€2.32
-52.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73Ft 536
$2.37€2.03
-27.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.06Ft 640
$2.08€1.77
-0.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.65Ft 825
$2.76€2.36
-3.99%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80Ft 247
$1.97€1.68
-59.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03Ft 319
$1.79€1.53
-42.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98Ft 617
$1.51€1.29
31.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51Ft 157
$0.90€0.77
-43.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.75Ft 2,099
$6.76€5.77
-0.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.69Ft 1,458
$7.55€6.44
-37.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10Ft 342
$1.44€1.23
-23.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19Ft 371
$2.41€2.06
-50.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Debrecen
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40Ft 435
$3.03€2.59
-53.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.83Ft 7,719
$28.39€24.25
-12.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.95Ft 918
$4.43€3.78
-33.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.16Ft 360
$2.05€1.75
-43.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.71Ft 3,639
$29.33€25.05
-60.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68Ft 522
$1.89€1.61
-11.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4KFt 6.6M
$38.7K€33.1K
-44.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8KFt 7.7M
$32.4K€27.6K
-23.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Debrecen
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138Ft 43.0K
$189€161
-26.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83Ft 8,650
$22.21€18.96
25.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.24Ft 5,360
$36.82€31.44
-53.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Debrecen
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.06Ft 14.0K
$58.0€49.52
-22.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.41Ft 2,302
$20.99€17.93
-64.70%
Cinema Ticket
$8.56Ft 2,662
$11.05€9.44
-22.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Debrecen
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$262Ft 81.4K
$726€620
-63.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0KFt 3.4M
$15.2K€13.0K
-27.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Debrecen
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.1Ft 20.8K
$88.3€75.4
-24.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.10Ft 7,491
$36.98€31.58
-34.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.4Ft 24.4K
$103€87.6
-23.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.8Ft 28.8K
$119€102
-22.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Debrecen
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$558Ft 173.4K
$1,526€1,304
-63.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$466Ft 144.8K
$1,218€1,040
-61.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977Ft 303.7K
$2,794€2,386
-65.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$848Ft 263.7K
$2,027€1,731
-58.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,050Ft 948.1K
$7,094€6,058
-57.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,574Ft 800.0K
$4,849€4,141
-46.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Debrecen
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,257Ft 390.9K
$2,404€2,053
-47.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.29
3.39
115.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Debrecen: April 26, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $558 in Debrecen and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 91% 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: $46.00 in Debrecen vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $320 per month, with Debrecen 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
Debrecen vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Debrecen and Barcelona?
Debrecen and Barcelona differ by about 94% in total monthly costs ($1,209 vs $2,341 including rent). Debrecen 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 91% 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 Debrecen and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $558 in Debrecen versus $1,526 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 Debrecen and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $262 in Debrecen versus $726 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 59% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,209 in Debrecen versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Debrecen but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Debrecen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Debrecen 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 Debrecen or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Debrecen 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: Debrecen or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Debrecen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.