🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,931 in Freetown versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,686 in Freetown versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,441 in Freetown versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Freetown costs roughly 18% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Freetown44% above, Barcelona75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Freetown
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.97SLL 73.3K
$17.61€15.08
-83.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.92SLL 787.6K
$68.7€58.8
-53.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.86SLL 243.4K
$13.75€11.77
-28.29%
Cappuccino
$1.75SLL 43.3K
$2.76€2.36
-36.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00SLL 24.8K
$2.78€2.38
-64.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91SLL 22.5K
$2.05€1.75
-55.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.54SLL 37.9K
$4.61€3.94
-66.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78SLL 68.5K
$4.59€3.93
-39.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Freetown
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.47SLL 60.9K
$1.28€1.10
92.97%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68SLL 16.8K
$2.11€1.81
-67.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.36SLL 33.5K
$1.97€1.69
-30.96%
Eggs
$1.97SLL 48.5K
$3.44€2.95
-42.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.04SLL 173.7K
$18.83€16.12
-62.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.58SLL 186.9K
$9.45€8.09
-19.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.13SLL 126.5K
$19.01€16.27
-73.01%
Apples(1kg)
$4.11SLL 101.3K
$2.72€2.33
51.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.02SLL 49.8K
$2.37€2.03
-14.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.74SLL 18.2K
$2.08€1.78
-64.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.99SLL 123.0K
$2.76€2.36
80.80%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02SLL 49.9K
$1.97€1.69
2.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66SLL 41.0K
$1.79€1.53
-7.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01SLL 25.0K
$1.51€1.29
-33.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42SLL 35.0K
$0.90€0.77
57.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96SLL 72.9K
$6.76€5.79
-56.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.72SLL 190.6K
$7.55€6.46
2.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12SLL 27.7K
$1.44€1.23
-22.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00SLL 49.4K
$2.41€2.06
-17.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Freetown
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44SLL 10.9K
$3.03€2.59
-85.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.39€24.30
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73SLL 18.1K
$4.43€3.79
-83.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.24SLL 30.5K
$2.05€1.76
-39.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.06SLL 124.7K
$29.33€25.11
-82.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32SLL 32.5K
$1.89€1.62
-30.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.9KSLL 292.6M
$38.7K€33.2K
-69.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7KSLL 609.6M
$32.4K€27.7K
-23.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Freetown
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143SLL 3.5M
$189€161
-24.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.13SLL 249.9K
$22.21€19.01
-54.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$99.4SLL 2.5M
$36.82€31.52
169.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Freetown
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.7SLL 1.3M
$58.0€49.64
-12.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.99€17.97
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$11.05€9.46
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Freetown
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$726€622
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.2K€13.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Freetown
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.96SLL 245.8K
$88.3€75.6
-88.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.03SLL 198.2K
$36.98€31.66
-78.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$20.25SLL 499.7K
$103€87.8
-80.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.2SLL 1.2M
$119€102
-57.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Freetown
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$807SLL 19.9M
$1,526€1,307
-47.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246SLL 30.7M
$1,218€1,043
2.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,143SLL 52.9M
$2,794€2,392
-23.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$98.6SLL 2.4M
$2,027€1,735
-95.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,044SLL 75.1M
$7,094€6,073
-57.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,740SLL 42.9M
$4,849€4,151
-64.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Freetown
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,123SLL 27.7M
$2,404€2,058
-53.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
3.39
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Freetown: April 25, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $807 in Freetown and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 114% 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: $32.00 in Freetown vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $320 per month, with Freetown 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
Freetown vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Freetown and Barcelona?
Freetown and Barcelona differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,931 vs $2,341 including rent). Freetown is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Barcelona earns 114% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Freetown and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $807 in Freetown versus $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Freetown – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Freetown or Barcelona?
All in, you'll spend $1,931 per month in Freetown versus $2,341 in Barcelona – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,931 in Freetown versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Freetown but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Freetown the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Freetown 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 Freetown or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Freetown 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: Freetown or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Freetown gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.