🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,184 in Duncan BC versus $2,476 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,477 in Duncan BC versus $3,545 in Barcelona.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,770 in Duncan BC versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Duncan BC costs roughly 12% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Duncan BC60% above, Barcelona81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duncan BC
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.34CA$25.65
$18.74€16.31
-2.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.7CA$100
$69.5€60.5
3.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.00CA$15.38
$13.77€11.98
-20.12%
Cappuccino
$4.04CA$5.65
$3.10€2.70
30.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19CA$3.06
$2.83€2.46
-22.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74CA$2.43
$1.88€1.64
-7.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.30CA$7.42
$3.98€3.47
33.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84CA$8.17
$4.53€3.94
28.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duncan BC
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63CA$2.29
$1.27€1.11
28.35%
White Bread(500g)
$2.65CA$3.71
$2.16€1.88
22.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.45CA$6.22
$1.76€1.53
152.84%
Eggs
$4.01CA$5.61
$5.13€4.46
-21.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.67CA$16.32
$17.88€15.56
-34.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.76CA$19.24
$9.65€8.40
42.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.54CA$20.33
$20.15€17.54
-27.84%
Apples(1kg)
$4.40CA$6.15
$3.25€2.83
35.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34CA$1.87
$2.23€1.94
-39.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.94CA$5.51
$2.60€2.26
51.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.00CA$5.60
$2.76€2.40
44.93%
Potato(1kg)
$2.84CA$3.97
$2.21€1.92
28.51%
Onion(1kg)
$2.98CA$4.17
$2.12€1.84
40.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.66CA$3.72
$1.55€1.35
71.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65CA$2.31
$0.95€0.83
73.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.17CA$19.82
$7.34€6.39
93.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.00CA$16.78
$8.05€7.00
49.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.72CA$3.81
$1.54€1.34
76.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95CA$4.13
$2.79€2.43
5.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Duncan BC
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04CA$2.85
$3.11€2.70
-34.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.7CA$105
$25.86€22.51
189.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.75CA$3.84
$3.27€2.85
-15.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60CA$2.24
$1.48€1.29
8.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.57CA$45.55
$34.27€29.83
-4.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27CA$1.77
$1.73€1.50
-26.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KCA$37.2K
$36.4K€31.7K
-26.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5KCA$27.3K
$30.5K€26.6K
-36.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duncan BC
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.8CA$109
$187€163
-58.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.64CA$49.86
$15.14€13.18
135.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.2CA$70.2
$37.69€32.80
33.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duncan BC
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.1CA$86.9
$55.9€48.68
11.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.08€14.87
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.68CA$16.33
$11.41€9.93
2.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duncan BC
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,064CA$1,489
$997€867
6.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1KCA$14.2K
$16.5K€14.4K
-38.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duncan BC
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2CA$79.9
$92.6€80.6
-38.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.66CA$48.48
$41.22€35.88
-15.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.9CA$122
$111€96.8
-21.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.2CA$129
$125€109
-26.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duncan BC
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,250CA$1,748
$1,707€1,486
-26.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,060CA$1,483
$1,286€1,119
-17.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,294CA$3,208
$2,565€2,233
-10.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,166CA$3,029
$1,942€1,690
11.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,425CA$6,190
$7,647€6,655
-42.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,642CA$5,094
$5,167€4,497
-29.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duncan BC
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,112CA$4,353
$2,348€2,044
32.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.21
3.16
33.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Duncan BC: September 14, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,250 in Duncan BC and $1,707 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Duncan BC pays 33% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $72.0 in Duncan BC vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $378 vs $336 per month, with Barcelona 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
Duncan BC vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Duncan BC and in Barcelona?
Duncan BC and Barcelona differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,184 vs $2,476 including rent). Duncan BC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Duncan BC or Barcelona?
Average pay runs 33% higher in Duncan BC, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Duncan BC and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,250 in Duncan BC versus $1,707 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 Duncan BC and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $1,064 in Duncan BC versus $997 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?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $2,184 in Duncan BC versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Duncan BC but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Duncan BC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Duncan BC 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 Duncan BC or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Duncan BC 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: Duncan BC or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Duncan BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.