🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,119 in Medias versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,699 in Medias versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,280 in Medias versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Medias costs roughly 52% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medias is 16% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medias
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.44RON 54.1
$17.61€15.04
-29.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9RON 221
$68.7€58.7
-25.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.96RON 34.63
$13.75€11.74
-42.11%
Cappuccino
$3.57RON 15.52
$2.76€2.36
29.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98RON 8.60
$2.78€2.38
-28.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09RON 9.09
$2.05€1.75
1.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19RON 13.86
$4.61€3.93
-30.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47RON 15.08
$4.59€3.92
-24.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medias
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35RON 5.86
$1.28€1.09
5.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30RON 5.63
$2.11€1.80
-38.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83RON 7.94
$1.97€1.68
-7.11%
Eggs
$3.35RON 14.56
$3.44€2.94
-2.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54RON 37.14
$18.83€16.08
-54.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.07RON 30.74
$9.45€8.07
-25.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.89RON 51.7
$19.01€16.24
-37.45%
Apples(1kg)
$1.19RON 5.19
$2.72€2.32
-56.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65RON 7.20
$2.37€2.03
-30.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55RON 6.76
$2.08€1.77
-25.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.39RON 10.40
$2.76€2.36
-13.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00RON 4.34
$1.97€1.68
-49.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04RON 4.51
$1.79€1.53
-41.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89RON 3.85
$1.51€1.29
-41.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82RON 3.59
$0.90€0.77
-8.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.76RON 25.08
$6.76€5.77
-14.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.07RON 30.75
$7.55€6.44
-6.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11RON 4.81
$1.44€1.23
-22.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70RON 7.41
$2.41€2.06
-29.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Medias
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RON 2.92
$3.03€2.59
-77.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.64RON 85.4
$28.39€24.25
-30.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76RON 3.29
$4.43€3.78
-82.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81RON 3.51
$2.05€1.75
-60.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.05RON 30.67
$29.33€25.05
-75.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49RON 6.47
$1.89€1.61
-21.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KRON 124.1K
$38.7K€33.1K
-26.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5KRON 119.6K
$32.4K€27.6K
-15.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medias
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$166RON 724
$189€161
-11.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.98RON 34.70
$22.21€18.96
-64.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.95RON 38.94
$36.82€31.44
-75.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medias
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.75RON 182
$58.0€49.52
-28.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.21RON 83.6
$20.99€17.93
-8.48%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04RON 30.62
$11.05€9.44
-36.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medias
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$440RON 1,916
$726€620
-39.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,542RON 28.5K
$15.2K€13.0K
-57.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medias
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.6RON 294
$88.3€75.4
-23.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.69RON 186
$36.98€31.58
15.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.4RON 419
$103€87.6
-5.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.4RON 432
$119€102
-16.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medias
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$383RON 1,666
$1,526€1,304
-74.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$292RON 1,272
$1,218€1,040
-75.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$585RON 2,544
$2,794€2,386
-79.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446RON 1,938
$2,027€1,731
-78.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,733RON 7,536
$7,094€6,058
-75.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,318RON 5,733
$4,849€4,141
-72.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medias
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,404€2,053
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.7
3.39
127.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medias: April 25, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $383 in Medias and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $51.0 in Medias vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $320 per month, with Medias 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
Medias vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medias and Barcelona?
Medias and Barcelona differ by about 109% in total monthly costs ($1,119 vs $2,341 including rent). Medias is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Medias compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $1,678 in Medias and $3,512 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 Medias and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $383 in Medias versus $1,526 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 Medias and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $440 in Medias versus $726 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 46% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,119 in Medias versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medias but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Medias the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medias 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 Medias or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medias 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: Medias or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Medias gentler on the wallet – expenses run 109% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.