🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,273 in Jamestown versus $2,337 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,749 in Jamestown versus $3,468 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,226 in Jamestown versus $4,599 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Jamestown costs roughly 46% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Jamestown is 5% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jamestown
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.06SHP 11.97
$17.08€14.72
-5.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.42SHP 36.07
$69.2€59.7
-30.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.07SHP 6.76
$13.78€11.87
-34.18%
Cappuccino
$2.98SHP 2.22
$2.76€2.37
7.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19SHP 0.89
$2.79€2.40
-57.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18SHP 0.88
$1.99€1.72
-40.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.87SHP 3.63
$4.36€3.76
11.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59SHP 1.93
$4.74€4.09
-45.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jamestown
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89SHP 1.41
$1.29€1.11
46.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67SHP 1.24
$2.05€1.77
-18.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39SHP 1.04
$1.99€1.71
-30.15%
Eggs
$4.39SHP 3.27
$3.39€2.92
29.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.35SHP 6.22
$18.81€16.21
-55.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.95SHP 8.15
$9.36€8.07
16.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.93SHP 8.14
$19.12€16.48
-42.83%
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.70€2.32
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$2.34€2.02
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.12€1.83
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.85€2.46
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.97€1.70
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.80€1.55
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64SHP 1.97
$1.45€1.25
82.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17SHP 1.62
$0.86€0.74
152.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.74SHP 8.00
$6.78€5.84
58.41%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.90€6.81
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.39€1.20
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.37€2.04
-
🚌 Getting Around
Jamestown
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.92€2.52
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.12SHP 30.63
$28.69€24.72
43.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.67SHP 1.99
$4.46€3.84
-40.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.05€1.77
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$29.55€25.46
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.82€1.56
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$38.8K€33.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$33.1K€28.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jamestown
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$189€163
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.80€19.65
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$108SHP 80.7
$37.59€32.39
188.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jamestown
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$6.90SHP 5.14
$57.7€49.75
-88.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.74€17.87
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$10.82€9.33
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jamestown
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$728€628
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.8K€12.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jamestown
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.97SHP 30.52
$88.6€76.4
-53.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.20SHP 15.05
$36.85€31.75
-45.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.90SHP 34.94
$102€87.9
-54.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$116€100
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jamestown
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$689SHP 513
$1,569€1,352
-56.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$604SHP 450
$1,218€1,050
-50.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$726SHP 541
$2,795€2,409
-74.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$706SHP 526
$1,975€1,702
-64.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,754€6,680
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,176€4,460
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jamestown
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,343€2,019
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.2
3.39
82.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jamestown: June 8, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $689 in Jamestown and $1,569 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Jamestown vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $319 per month, with Jamestown 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
Jamestown vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Jamestown and Barcelona?
Jamestown and Barcelona differ by about 84% in total monthly costs ($1,273 vs $2,337 including rent). Jamestown is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Jamestown compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $1,910 in Jamestown and $3,505 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 Jamestown and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $689 in Jamestown versus $1,569 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 Jamestown – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How do commuting costs compare in Jamestown and Barcelona?
A monthly transit pass in Jamestown runs roughly 43% less than in Barcelona. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,273 in Jamestown versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jamestown but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Jamestown the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Jamestown 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 Jamestown or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Jamestown 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: Jamestown or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Jamestown gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.