Cost of Living Comparison Between Elmina and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Elmina and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $526 in Elmina versus $2,320 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $905 in Elmina versus $3,426 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,284 in Elmina versus $4,532 in Barcelona.

Living in Elmina costs roughly 77% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Elmina is 61% below, Barcelona is 74% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.45 GHS 51.4
$17.66 €15.45
-74.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.28 GHS 558
$69.7 €61.0
-30.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.79 GHS 90.0
$14.16 €12.39
-44.99%
Cappuccino
$3.54 GHS 40.94
$2.80 €2.45
26.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 GHS 10.68
$2.81 €2.46
-67.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 GHS 3.96
$2.06 €1.81
-83.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.58 GHS 18.20
$4.60 €4.02
-65.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 GHS 28.60
$4.69 €4.10
-47.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.47 GHS 40.09
$1.23 €1.08
182.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 GHS 16.80
$2.03 €1.78
-28.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.37 GHS 27.33
$1.98 €1.73
19.70%
Eggs
$2.40 GHS 27.70
$3.49 €3.05
-31.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.04 GHS 128
$18.33 €16.04
-39.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.54 GHS 52.4
$9.83 €8.60
-53.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.82 GHS 67.2
$19.13 €16.73
-69.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.91 GHS 33.62
$2.73 €2.38
6.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 GHS 16.13
$2.38 €2.09
-41.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 GHS 19.69
$2.08 €1.82
-17.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.21 GHS 37.02
$2.75 €2.41
16.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.00 GHS 34.64
$1.96 €1.72
53.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 GHS 28.15
$1.79 €1.57
36.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 GHS 8.69
$1.48 €1.29
-49.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 GHS 5.61
$0.91 €0.80
-46.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.65 GHS 19.05
$7.13 €6.24
-76.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.42 GHS 85.8
$7.88 €6.89
-5.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 GHS 12.85
$1.38 €1.21
-19.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 GHS 22.64
$2.39 €2.09
-17.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$3.01 €2.63
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.35 €25.68
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 GHS 18.65
$4.36 €3.82
-62.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.17 GHS 13.54
$2.13 €1.86
-45.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.48 GHS 63.2
$29.60 €25.90
-81.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 GHS 12.59
$1.82 €1.59
-40.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,156 GHS 94.2K
$37.9K €33.1K
-78.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,546 GHS 110.3K
$32.4K €28.3K
-70.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.5 GHS 652
$189 €165
-70.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33 GHS 154
$22.29 €19.50
-40.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.32 GHS 443
$37.16 €32.51
3.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$58.0 €50.8
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.66 €18.08
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.92 GHS 115
$10.87 €9.51
-8.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$71.4 GHS 825
$706 €618
-89.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,919 GHS 91.5K
$14.9K €13.0K
-46.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.66 GHS 169
$89.4 €78.3
-83.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.23 GHS 222
$36.60 €32.02
-47.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$28.80 GHS 333
$104 €91.0
-72.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.81 GHS 483
$119 €104
-64.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,579 €1,381
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,238 €1,083
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,712 €2,373
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,039 €1,784
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,527 €6,585
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$5,239 €4,584
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$2,364 €2,068
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
25.4
3.39
649.26%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Elmina: July 14, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $48.00 in Elmina vs $70.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $320 per month, with Elmina 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
Elmina vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Elmina and in Barcelona?
Elmina and Barcelona differ by about 341% in total monthly costs ($526 vs $2,320 including rent). Elmina is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Elmina compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $789 in Elmina and $3,480 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 Elmina and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $71.4 in Elmina versus $706 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 Elmina – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $70.0 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 $526 in Elmina versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Elmina but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Elmina the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Elmina 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 Elmina or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Elmina 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: Elmina or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Elmina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 341% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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