😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,502 in Embrach versus $2,476 in Barcelona.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,311 in Embrach versus $3,545 in Barcelona.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,120 in Embrach versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Embrach is roughly 41% more expensive than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Embrach156% above, Barcelona81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Embrach
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.48CHF 25.16
$18.74€16.33
62.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$124CHF 102
$69.5€60.6
78.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.51CHF 15.28
$13.77€12.00
34.42%
Cappuccino
$6.00CHF 4.95
$3.10€2.70
93.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.48CHF 4.53
$2.83€2.47
93.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.99CHF 4.12
$1.88€1.64
165.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.87CHF 7.32
$3.98€3.47
122.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.36CHF 6.07
$4.53€3.95
62.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Embrach
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17CHF 1.79
$1.27€1.11
70.87%
White Bread(500g)
$3.71CHF 3.06
$2.16€1.88
71.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.86CHF 3.18
$1.76€1.53
119.32%
Eggs
$7.96CHF 6.57
$5.13€4.47
55.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.40CHF 21.79
$17.88€15.59
47.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$28.10CHF 23.20
$9.65€8.41
191.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$40.98CHF 33.82
$20.15€17.56
103.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.70CHF 3.05
$3.25€2.84
13.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11CHF 1.74
$2.23€1.94
-5.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69CHF 2.22
$2.60€2.27
3.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.91CHF 4.05
$2.76€2.40
77.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90CHF 1.57
$2.21€1.93
-14.03%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12CHF 1.75
$2.12€1.85
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.25CHF 1.85
$1.55€1.35
45.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34CHF 1.11
$0.95€0.83
41.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.91CHF 9.01
$7.34€6.40
48.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.32CHF 10.99
$8.05€7.01
65.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.76CHF 2.28
$1.54€1.35
79.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16CHF 2.60
$2.79€2.43
13.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Embrach
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.46CHF 3.68
$3.11€2.71
43.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$101CHF 83.1
$25.86€22.54
289.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.57CHF 6.25
$3.27€2.85
131.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.76CHF 3.93
$1.48€1.29
221.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$80.9CHF 66.8
$34.27€29.88
135.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.23CHF 1.84
$1.73€1.51
28.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.4KCHF 35.0K
$36.4K€31.7K
16.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8KCHF 32.8K
$30.5K€26.6K
30.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Embrach
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$288CHF 238
$187€163
54.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.75CHF 27.85
$15.14€13.20
122.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.8CHF 47.70
$37.69€32.85
53.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Embrach
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$91.3CHF 75.4
$55.9€48.76
63.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.78CHF 37.78
$17.08€14.89
168.03%
Cinema Ticket
$23.65CHF 19.52
$11.41€9.95
107.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Embrach
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,764CHF 2,282
$997€869
177.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$35.3KCHF 29.1K
$16.5K€14.4K
113.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Embrach
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$142CHF 117
$92.6€80.8
53.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.2CHF 48.84
$41.22€35.93
43.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$170CHF 140
$111€96.9
52.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$191CHF 157
$125€109
52.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Embrach
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,772CHF 1,463
$1,707€1,488
3.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,476CHF 1,219
$1,286€1,121
14.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,960CHF 2,443
$2,565€2,236
15.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,520CHF 2,080
$1,942€1,693
29.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$16.4KCHF 13.5K
$7,647€6,666
114.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.5KCHF 10.3K
$5,167€4,504
141.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Embrach
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,661CHF 5,498
$2,348€2,047
183.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.07
3.16
-34.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Embrach: September 14, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,772 in Embrach and $1,707 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Embrach pays 184% 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: $124 in Embrach vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $597 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
Embrach vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Embrach and in Barcelona?
Embrach and Barcelona differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($3,502 vs $2,476 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Embrach or Barcelona?
Average pay runs 184% higher in Embrach, 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 Embrach and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,772 in Embrach 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 Embrach and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $2,764 in Embrach 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 78% higher in Embrach. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Barcelona is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Embrach 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 Embrach or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Embrach 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: Embrach or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Embrach. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.