🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $567 in El Progreso versus $2,337 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $893 in El Progreso versus $3,468 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,219 in El Progreso versus $4,599 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in El Progreso costs roughly 76% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: El Progreso is 58% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Progreso
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.72HNL 153
$17.08€14.81
-66.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.78HNL 661
$69.2€60.1
-64.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.88HNL 210
$13.78€11.95
-42.82%
Cappuccino
$1.47HNL 39.24
$2.76€2.39
-46.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01HNL 26.89
$2.79€2.42
-63.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03HNL 27.38
$1.99€1.73
-48.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16HNL 31.05
$4.36€3.79
-73.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99HNL 53.0
$4.74€4.11
-58.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Progreso
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29HNL 34.35
$1.29€1.12
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.08HNL 55.5
$2.05€1.78
1.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22HNL 32.63
$1.99€1.72
-38.69%
Eggs
$2.04HNL 54.4
$3.39€2.94
-39.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.45HNL 119
$18.81€16.31
-76.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.89HNL 104
$9.36€8.12
-58.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.84HNL 209
$19.12€16.58
-59.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97HNL 79.3
$2.70€2.34
10.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44HNL 38.34
$2.34€2.03
-38.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45HNL 38.66
$2.12€1.84
-31.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52HNL 40.51
$2.85€2.47
-46.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60HNL 42.66
$1.97€1.71
-18.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35HNL 35.88
$1.80€1.57
-25.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89HNL 23.69
$1.45€1.26
-38.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.67HNL 44.45
$0.86€0.74
94.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.47HNL 65.9
$6.78€5.88
-63.57%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.90€6.85
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33HNL 35.58
$1.39€1.20
-4.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80HNL 48.01
$2.37€2.06
-24.05%
🚌 Getting Around
El Progreso
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.92€2.53
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.69€24.88
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.35HNL 116
$4.46€3.86
-2.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.05€1.78
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$29.55€25.62
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08HNL 28.79
$1.82€1.57
-40.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5KHNL 520.2K
$38.8K€33.7K
-49.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4KHNL 518.0K
$33.1K€28.7K
-41.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Progreso
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.7HNL 2,150
$189€164
-57.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.07HNL 242
$22.80€19.77
-60.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.37HNL 1,103
$37.59€32.60
10.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Progreso
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$57.7€50.1
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.74€17.99
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.73HNL 153
$10.82€9.39
-47.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Progreso
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$245HNL 6,538
$728€632
-66.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.8K€12.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Progreso
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56HNL 1,214
$88.6€76.9
-48.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.67HNL 951
$36.85€31.96
-3.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111HNL 2,952
$102€88.5
8.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103HNL 2,750
$116€101
-11.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Progreso
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,569€1,361
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,218€1,057
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,795€2,424
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,975€1,713
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,754€6,724
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,176€4,489
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Progreso
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,343€2,032
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
3.39
253.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for El Progreso: June 7, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in El Progreso vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $319 per month, with El Progreso 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
El Progreso vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in El Progreso and Barcelona?
El Progreso and Barcelona differ by about 312% in total monthly costs ($567 vs $2,337 including rent). El Progreso is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in El Progreso compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $850 in El Progreso and $3,505 in Barcelona to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the difference in childcare costs between El Progreso and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $245 in El Progreso versus $728 in Barcelona. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in El Progreso – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $567 in El Progreso versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in El Progreso but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes El Progreso the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between El Progreso 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 El Progreso or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, El Progreso 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: El Progreso or Barcelona?
Expats usually find El Progreso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 312% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
El Progreso vs other spots: cost of living compared