🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $680 in Elmina versus $2,495 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,160 in Elmina versus $3,550 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,640 in Elmina versus $4,605 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Elmina costs roughly 73% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Elmina is 50% below, Barcelona is 82% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.14GHS 92.0
$18.39€15.81
-55.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.4GHS 604
$69.2€59.5
-22.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.81GHS 122
$14.13€12.15
-23.50%
Cappuccino
$4.72GHS 53.3
$3.13€2.69
50.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65GHS 18.66
$3.02€2.59
-45.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49GHS 5.48
$1.96€1.69
-75.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.86GHS 21.01
$4.00€3.44
-53.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27GHS 25.65
$4.76€4.09
-52.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.81GHS 43.11
$1.25€1.07
204.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80GHS 20.34
$2.16€1.86
-16.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.14GHS 35.48
$1.69€1.45
85.80%
Eggs
$2.71GHS 30.61
$4.93€4.24
-45.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.56GHS 142
$17.88€15.37
-29.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.49GHS 84.6
$9.61€8.26
-22.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.26GHS 116
$19.34€16.63
-46.95%
Apples(1kg)
$3.77GHS 42.55
$3.24€2.78
16.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47GHS 16.63
$2.18€1.87
-32.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86GHS 21.06
$2.67€2.30
-30.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.75GHS 42.42
$2.77€2.38
35.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.81GHS 31.80
$2.21€1.90
27.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.73GHS 30.84
$2.19€1.88
24.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78GHS 8.78
$1.52€1.31
-48.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62GHS 6.95
$0.92€0.79
-32.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.59GHS 29.23
$7.12€6.12
-63.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.16GHS 80.9
$8.14€6.99
-12.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32GHS 14.93
$1.50€1.29
-12.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46GHS 27.75
$2.78€2.39
-11.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$3.15€2.71
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.99€23.21
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.73GHS 19.53
$3.25€2.79
-46.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29GHS 14.59
$1.50€1.29
-14.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.38GHS 49.50
$34.89€30.00
-87.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39GHS 15.73
$1.75€1.50
-20.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,005GHS 90.5K
$36.7K€31.5K
-78.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$10.3KGHS 116.0K
$30.9K€26.6K
-66.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.0GHS 836
$188€161
-60.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.52GHS 221
$15.44€13.27
26.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.23GHS 489
$37.80€32.49
14.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$57.2€49.16
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.80€14.44
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.10GHS 148
$11.58€9.95
13.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$468GHS 5,294
$1,003€862
-53.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.5KGHS 208.8K
$17.0K€14.6K
8.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.64GHS 165
$89.2€76.7
-83.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.45GHS 220
$40.87€35.14
-52.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$37.21GHS 420
$110€94.5
-66.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.0GHS 621
$123€105
-55.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,673€1,438
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,331€1,145
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,596€2,232
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,950€1,676
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,573€6,511
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,370€4,617
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elmina
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,402€2,065
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
26.75
3.16
746.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Elmina: August 31, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Elmina vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $290 vs $332 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 267% in total monthly costs ($680 vs $2,495 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 $1,021 in Elmina and $3,743 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 $468 in Elmina versus $1,003 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 $53.0 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 $680 in Elmina versus $2,495 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 267% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.