😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,382 in Lancy versus $2,476 in Barcelona.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,149 in Lancy versus $3,545 in Barcelona.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,916 in Lancy versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Lancy is roughly 37% more expensive than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lancy147% above, Barcelona81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lancy
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.91CHF 23.76
$18.74€16.31
54.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$126CHF 104
$69.5€60.5
81.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.85CHF 13.02
$13.77€11.98
15.11%
Cappuccino
$6.39CHF 5.25
$3.10€2.70
106.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.25CHF 4.31
$2.83€2.46
85.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34CHF 3.56
$1.88€1.64
130.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.07CHF 7.45
$3.98€3.47
127.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.07CHF 6.63
$4.53€3.94
78.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lancy
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19CHF 1.80
$1.27€1.11
72.44%
White Bread(500g)
$2.97CHF 2.44
$2.16€1.88
37.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.20CHF 2.63
$1.76€1.53
81.82%
Eggs
$8.26CHF 6.79
$5.13€4.46
61.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$25.22CHF 20.73
$17.88€15.56
41.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$29.00CHF 23.83
$9.65€8.40
200.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$39.85CHF 32.75
$20.15€17.54
97.77%
Apples(1kg)
$3.49CHF 2.87
$3.25€2.83
7.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70CHF 1.40
$2.23€1.94
-23.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69CHF 2.21
$2.60€2.26
3.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.57CHF 3.76
$2.76€2.40
65.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61CHF 1.32
$2.21€1.92
-27.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00CHF 1.64
$2.12€1.84
-5.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.13CHF 1.75
$1.55€1.35
37.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31CHF 1.08
$0.95€0.83
37.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.20CHF 9.21
$7.34€6.39
52.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.11CHF 9.95
$8.05€7.00
50.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21CHF 1.82
$1.54€1.34
43.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11CHF 2.56
$2.79€2.43
11.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Lancy
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.41CHF 3.63
$3.11€2.70
41.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$102CHF 83.4
$25.86€22.51
292.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.68CHF 6.31
$3.27€2.85
134.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.92CHF 3.22
$1.48€1.29
164.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$66.1CHF 54.3
$34.27€29.83
92.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.37CHF 1.94
$1.73€1.50
36.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.6KCHF 32.6K
$36.4K€31.7K
8.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7KCHF 32.6K
$30.5K€26.6K
29.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lancy
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$275CHF 226
$187€163
47.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.05CHF 23.88
$15.14€13.18
91.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.4CHF 45.53
$37.69€32.80
46.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lancy
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$93.6CHF 76.9
$55.9€48.68
67.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.97CHF 38.60
$17.08€14.87
175.00%
Cinema Ticket
$24.41CHF 20.06
$11.41€9.93
113.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lancy
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,476CHF 2,035
$997€867
148.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$32.0KCHF 26.3K
$16.5K€14.4K
93.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lancy
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$137CHF 112
$92.6€80.6
47.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.4CHF 51.3
$41.22€35.88
51.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$158CHF 130
$111€96.8
42.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$190CHF 156
$125€109
51.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lancy
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,715CHF 1,409
$1,707€1,486
0.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,488CHF 1,222
$1,286€1,119
15.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,899CHF 2,382
$2,565€2,233
13.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,546CHF 2,092
$1,942€1,690
31.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$16.3KCHF 13.4K
$7,647€6,655
113.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.3KCHF 10.1K
$5,167€4,497
138.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lancy
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,348€2,044
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.98
3.16
-37.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lancy: September 14, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,715 in Lancy and $1,707 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $126 in Lancy vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $574 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
Lancy vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lancy and in Barcelona?
Lancy and Barcelona differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($3,382 vs $2,476 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lancy compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $5,073 in Lancy and $3,714 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 Lancy and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,715 in Lancy 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 Lancy and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $2,476 in Lancy 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 71% higher in Lancy. 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 Lancy 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 Lancy or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lancy 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: Lancy or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Lancy. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.