πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,066 in Ishim versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,620 in Ishim versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,175 in Ishim versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
πLiving in Ishim costs roughly 55% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Ishim is 20% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Ishim
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.96β½727
$17.58β¬15.12
-43.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.56β½2,595
$68.4β¬58.9
-48.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.73β½638
$14.06β¬12.09
-37.91%
Cappuccino
$2.66β½194
$2.78β¬2.39
-4.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99β½72.4
$2.80β¬2.41
-64.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58β½42.50
$2.06β¬1.78
-71.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.10β½80.1
$4.46β¬3.84
-75.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86β½136
$4.61β¬3.96
-59.65%
π Groceries & Markets
Ishim
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10β½80.2
$1.24β¬1.07
-11.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.63β½45.65
$2.03β¬1.74
-68.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26β½91.9
$1.92β¬1.65
-34.37%
Eggs
$1.67β½122
$3.31β¬2.85
-49.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.64β½777
$18.43β¬15.85
-42.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.16β½304
$9.49β¬8.16
-56.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.22β½892
$19.16β¬16.48
-36.22%
Apples(1kg)
$1.63β½119
$2.64β¬2.27
-38.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.82β½133
$2.45β¬2.11
-25.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71β½125
$2.12β¬1.82
-19.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.29β½167
$2.85β¬2.45
-19.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95β½69.6
$2.04β¬1.75
-53.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67β½48.58
$1.85β¬1.59
-63.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06β½77.7
$1.47β¬1.26
-27.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74β½54.0
$0.84β¬0.73
-11.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92β½213
$7.14β¬6.14
-59.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.82β½571
$7.88β¬6.78
-0.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02β½74.5
$1.38β¬1.19
-26.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24β½90.8
$2.31β¬1.99
-46.32%
π Getting Around
Ishim
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53β½39.01
$2.98β¬2.56
-82.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.26β¬25.17
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.92β½213
$4.60β¬3.95
-36.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22β½16.05
$2.07β¬1.78
-89.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.18β½451
$29.18β¬25.10
-78.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76β½55.5
$1.84β¬1.58
-58.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4Kβ½1.9M
$39.0Kβ¬33.6K
-34.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2Kβ½1.7M
$32.7Kβ¬28.1K
-29.08%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ishim
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$157β½11.4K
$188β¬162
-16.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.02β½367
$22.93β¬19.73
-78.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.38β½758
$36.71β¬31.58
-71.72%
π Sport & Entertainment
Ishim
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.17β½2,567
$57.4β¬49.35
-38.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.70β¬17.80
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.46β½325
$11.19β¬9.63
-60.14%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Ishim
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$177β½12.9K
$721β¬620
-75.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,362β½610.4K
$15.0Kβ¬12.9K
-44.41%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Ishim
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.2β½7,095
$86.2β¬74.2
12.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.48β½3,319
$37.07β¬31.89
22.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$151β½11.0K
$102β¬87.8
47.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162β½11.8K
$116β¬99.7
39.60%
π Accommodation & Living
Ishim
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$447β½32.6K
$1,534β¬1,319
-70.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309β½22.6K
$1,220β¬1,050
-74.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$751β½54.8K
$2,696β¬2,319
-72.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$513β½37.4K
$2,013β¬1,732
-74.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,461β½179.7K
$7,220β¬6,211
-65.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,796β½131.1K
$5,189β¬4,463
-65.38%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Ishim
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,359β¬2,029
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.38
3.39
560.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ishim: June 1, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Ishim and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $36.00 in Ishim vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $318 per month, with Ishim cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ishim vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ishim and Barcelona?
Ishim and Barcelona differ by about 122% in total monthly costs ($1,066 vs $2,367 including rent). Ishim is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ishim compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $1,598 in Ishim and $3,550 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Ishim and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $447 in Ishim versus $1,534 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 Ishim and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $177 in Ishim versus $721 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 Ishim β a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $68.0 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 $1,066 in Ishim versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ishim but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Ishim the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ishim and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ishim or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ishim 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: Ishim or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Ishim gentler on the wallet β expenses run 122% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.