🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,312 in Hay River, NT versus $2,320 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,325 in Hay River, NT versus $3,426 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,338 in Hay River, NT versus $4,532 in Barcelona.
🌍Monthly costs are close between Hay River, NT and Barcelona; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hay River, NT73% above, Barcelona74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hay River, NT
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.22CA$24.28
$17.66€15.48
-2.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7CA$97.0
$69.7€61.1
-1.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.21CA$15.82
$14.16€12.42
-20.83%
Cappuccino
$3.89CA$5.49
$2.80€2.45
38.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96CA$2.76
$2.81€2.47
-30.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69CA$2.39
$2.06€1.81
-17.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.44CA$7.67
$4.60€4.03
18.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86CA$8.26
$4.69€4.11
24.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hay River, NT
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19CA$3.09
$1.23€1.08
78.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72CA$3.83
$2.03€1.78
33.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.67CA$5.18
$1.98€1.73
85.35%
Eggs
$3.38CA$4.76
$3.49€3.06
-3.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.97CA$15.47
$18.33€16.07
-40.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.58CA$16.33
$9.83€8.62
17.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.97CA$21.12
$19.13€16.77
-21.75%
Apples(1kg)
$3.99CA$5.63
$2.73€2.39
46.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37CA$1.93
$2.38€2.09
-42.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.72CA$5.25
$2.08€1.83
78.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.81CA$5.37
$2.75€2.41
38.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.49CA$3.51
$1.96€1.72
27.04%
Onion(1kg)
$2.49CA$3.51
$1.79€1.57
39.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64CA$3.72
$1.48€1.29
78.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77CA$2.50
$0.91€0.80
94.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.87CA$19.57
$7.13€6.26
94.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.56CA$17.71
$7.88€6.91
59.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.88CA$4.07
$1.38€1.21
108.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08CA$4.34
$2.39€2.10
28.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Hay River, NT
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34CA$3.31
$3.01€2.64
-22.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.5CA$88.2
$29.35€25.74
113.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.24CA$4.57
$4.36€3.82
-25.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.49CA$2.10
$2.13€1.87
-30.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.32CA$35.71
$29.60€25.96
-14.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13CA$1.59
$1.82€1.60
-37.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KCA$35.5K
$37.9K€33.2K
-33.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5KCA$28.9K
$32.4K€28.4K
-36.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hay River, NT
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144CA$203
$189€166
-23.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.97CA$62.0
$22.29€19.55
97.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.0CA$88.9
$37.16€32.58
69.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hay River, NT
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.88CA$59.1
$58.0€50.9
-27.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.66€18.12
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.27CA$15.90
$10.87€9.53
3.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hay River, NT
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$731CA$1,030
$706€619
3.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8KCA$16.6K
$14.9K€13.0K
-20.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hay River, NT
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.6CA$77.0
$89.4€78.4
-38.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.11CA$56.6
$36.60€32.09
9.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.6CA$122
$104€91.2
-16.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106CA$149
$119€105
-11.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hay River, NT
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,315CA$1,854
$1,579€1,384
-16.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,188CA$1,676
$1,238€1,086
-4.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,015CA$2,842
$2,712€2,378
-25.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,831CA$2,582
$2,039€1,788
-10.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,892CA$6,901
$7,527€6,599
-35.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,207CA$4,523
$5,239€4,594
-38.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hay River, NT
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,282CA$6,040
$2,364€2,073
81.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.46
3.39
90.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hay River, NT: July 11, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,315 in Hay River, NT and $1,579 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hay River, NT pays 81% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Hay River, NT vs $70.0 in Barcelona. Groceries flip the comparison at $365 vs $320, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.
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
Hay River, NT vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city pays better: Hay River, NT or Barcelona?
Average pay runs 81% higher in Hay River, NT, 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 Hay River, NT and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,315 in Hay River, NT versus $1,579 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 Hay River, NT and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $731 in Hay River, NT 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 Hay River, NT – a meal for two runs $69.0 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 $2,000 per month?
At $2,312 in Hay River, NT versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hay River, NT but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Hay River, NT the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hay River, NT 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 Hay River, NT or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hay River, NT 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.
How do I decide between Hay River, NT and Barcelona?
It comes down to priorities – Hay River, NT wins on affordability, Barcelona on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.
Hay River, NT vs other spots: cost of living compared