Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lodz and Barcelona

For one person, living is cheaper in Lodz: $1,492 a month against $2,381 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $10,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lodz, Poland
Barcelona, Spain
Lodz
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,492
/mo nomad
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,381
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lodz and in Barcelona

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lodz and in Barcelona actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,492 in Lodz versus $2,381 in Barcelona.

  • Lodz $1,492
  • Barcelona $2,381

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,191 in Lodz versus $3,406 in Barcelona.

  • Lodz $2,191
  • Barcelona $3,406

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,889 in Lodz versus $4,431 in Barcelona.

  • Lodz $2,889
  • Barcelona $4,431

Living in Lodz costs roughly 37% less than in Barcelona, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lodz 10% above, Barcelona 76% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lodz
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.67 zł 37.93
$17.89 €15.95
-45.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.77 zł 183
$66.2 €59.0
-29.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.80 zł 34.50
$13.69 €12.20
-35.72%
Cappuccino
$3.55 zł 13.93
$3.06 €2.73
16.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 zł 10.97
$3.07 €2.74
-8.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 zł 10.65
$1.94 €1.73
40.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.65 zł 18.25
$3.87 €3.45
20.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.16 zł 20.25
$4.61 €4.11
11.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lodz
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 zł 3.86
$1.30 €1.16
-24.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.08 zł 4.23
$2.10 €1.87
-48.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.34 zł 5.27
$1.83 €1.63
-26.78%
Eggs
$3.47 zł 13.59
$4.62 €4.12
-24.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.50 zł 41.19
$17.36 €15.47
-39.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.92 zł 27.14
$9.28 €8.27
-25.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.97 zł 46.96
$19.83 €17.68
-39.64%
Apples (1kg)
$1.15 zł 4.50
$3.01 €2.69
-61.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 zł 6.53
$2.03 €1.81
-17.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 zł 9.10
$2.65 €2.36
-12.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.00 zł 11.76
$2.87 €2.56
4.53%
Potato (1kg)
$0.78 zł 3.07
$2.16 €1.92
-63.89%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 zł 3.66
$2.15 €1.91
-56.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 zł 5.47
$1.47 €1.31
-4.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 zł 2.35
$0.88 €0.79
-31.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.80 zł 22.75
$6.93 €6.17
-16.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.76 zł 26.51
$7.83 €6.98
-13.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 zł 4.53
$1.39 €1.24
-16.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 zł 6.88
$2.63 €2.35
-33.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Lodz
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.10 zł 4.31
$2.91 €2.59
-62.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.1 zł 204
$25.46 €22.69
104.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 zł 6.06
$3.00 €2.67
-48.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 zł 2.11
$1.44 €1.29
-62.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.35 zł 36.67
$33.20 €29.59
-71.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 zł 6.31
$1.86 €1.66
-13.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K zł 119.1K
$32.3K €28.8K
-6.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K zł 110.9K
$31.7K €28.3K
-10.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lodz
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$321 zł 1,258
$183 €163
75.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.43 zł 33.05
$13.61 €12.13
-38.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.64 zł 69.2
$32.93 €29.35
-46.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lodz
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.34 zł 143
$54.7 €48.75
-33.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.84 zł 70.0
$16.52 €14.73
7.99%
Cinema Ticket
$8.34 zł 32.70
$11.23 €10.01
-25.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lodz
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$511 zł 2,004
$954 €850
-46.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.2K zł 40.0K
$16.6K €14.8K
-38.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lodz
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.4 zł 288
$86.0 €76.7
-14.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.53 zł 159
$39.11 €34.86
3.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.7 zł 356
$104 €92.4
-12.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 zł 388
$119 €106
-16.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lodz
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$599 zł 2,349
$1,695 €1,511
-64.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$472 zł 1,849
$1,276 €1,137
-63.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,096 zł 4,297
$2,576 €2,296
-57.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$833 zł 3,265
$1,922 €1,713
-56.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,108 zł 12.2K
$7,281 €6,490
-57.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,352 zł 9,223
$5,010 €4,465
-53.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lodz
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,627 zł 6,382
$2,227 €1,985
-26.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.87
3.28
109.45%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lodz: October 20, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lodz
$472
Barcelona
$1.3K 171% $805
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lodz
$347
Barcelona
$229 33.9% $117
Groceries & Markets
Lodz
$222
Barcelona
$325 46.6% $103
Eating Out
Lodz
$202
Barcelona
$270 33.4% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Lodz
$137
Barcelona
$156 14.5% $20
Getting Around
Lodz
$61
Barcelona
$47 22.1% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Lodz
$53
Barcelona
$77 45.5% $24

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $599 in Lodz and $1,695 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 37% 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: $47 in Lodz vs $66 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $325 per month, with Lodz cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇱 Lodz
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🕒 Local time
01:46 1:46 AM
01:46 1:46 AM
Same time as Lodz
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
711,332
1,660,122
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to PLN – Polish Złoty Converter

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 26, 2026: 1 USD = 3.92 PLN (1 PLN = 0.255 USD). 1 EUR = 4.39 PLN (1 PLN = 0.228 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 26, 2026: 1 USD = 0.891 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lodz Barcelona 1,750 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lodz
  • Barcelona

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Lodz vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lodz and in Barcelona?
Lodz and Barcelona differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($1,492 vs $2,381 including rent). Lodz is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 27% lower in Lodz. 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 Lodz and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $599 in Lodz versus $1,695 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 Lodz and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $511 in Lodz versus $954 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 47% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $1,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Lodz 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 Lodz 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 Lodz or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lodz 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 Lodz and Barcelona?
It comes down to priorities – Lodz wins on affordability, Barcelona on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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