🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,982 in Moncton versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,942 in Moncton versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,902 in Moncton versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Moncton costs roughly 16% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Moncton48% above, Barcelona77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moncton
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.12CA$25.08
$17.58€15.12
3.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.3CA$93.1
$68.4€58.9
-1.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.11CA$15.38
$14.06€12.09
-20.98%
Cappuccino
$3.30CA$4.57
$2.78€2.39
18.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86CA$2.57
$2.80€2.41
-33.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83CA$2.54
$2.06€1.78
-11.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.65CA$5.05
$4.46€3.84
-18.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35CA$6.02
$4.61€3.96
-5.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moncton
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.65CA$3.66
$1.24€1.07
113.71%
White Bread(500g)
$3.05CA$4.22
$2.03€1.74
50.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.60CA$4.98
$1.92€1.65
87.50%
Eggs
$3.58CA$4.96
$3.31€2.85
8.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.83CA$17.77
$18.43€15.85
-30.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.05CA$15.30
$9.49€8.16
16.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.51CA$14.55
$19.16€16.48
-45.15%
Apples(1kg)
$5.46CA$7.55
$2.64€2.27
106.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54CA$2.13
$2.45€2.11
-37.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.78CA$5.23
$2.12€1.82
78.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.18CA$5.78
$2.85€2.45
46.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.24CA$3.10
$2.04€1.75
9.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.56CA$3.55
$1.85€1.59
38.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.35CA$3.26
$1.47€1.26
59.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18CA$3.02
$0.84€0.73
159.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.06CA$18.09
$7.14€6.14
82.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.76CA$16.28
$7.88€6.78
49.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64CA$3.66
$1.38€1.19
91.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25CA$5.88
$2.31€1.99
83.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Moncton
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.19CA$3.03
$2.98€2.56
-26.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$50.7CA$70.2
$29.26€25.17
73.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.87CA$3.97
$4.60€3.95
-37.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34CA$1.86
$2.07€1.78
-35.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.43CA$31.05
$29.18€25.10
-23.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26CA$1.74
$1.84€1.58
-31.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KCA$34.3K
$39.0K€33.6K
-36.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9KCA$27.6K
$32.7K€28.1K
-39.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moncton
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130CA$180
$188€162
-30.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.82CA$52.4
$22.93€19.73
64.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.9CA$84.3
$36.71€31.58
65.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moncton
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.36CA$51.7
$57.4€49.35
-34.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.70CA$9.28
$20.70€17.80
-67.63%
Cinema Ticket
$12.28CA$17.01
$11.19€9.63
9.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moncton
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$396CA$548
$721€620
-45.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,276CA$10.1K
$15.0K€12.9K
-51.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moncton
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2CA$75.0
$86.2€74.2
-37.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.74CA$53.6
$37.07€31.89
4.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107CA$148
$102€87.8
4.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145CA$200
$116€99.7
24.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moncton
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,020CA$1,413
$1,534€1,319
-33.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$836CA$1,157
$1,220€1,050
-31.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,614CA$2,234
$2,696€2,319
-40.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301CA$1,801
$2,013€1,732
-35.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,281CA$3,159
$7,220€6,211
-68.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,114CA$2,927
$5,189€4,463
-59.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moncton
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,553CA$3,534
$2,359€2,029
8.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.57
3.39
93.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Moncton: June 1, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Moncton and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Moncton pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Moncton vs $68.0 in Barcelona. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $318, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.
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
Moncton vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Moncton and Barcelona?
Moncton and Barcelona differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($1,982 vs $2,367 including rent). Moncton is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Moncton or Barcelona?
Moncton pays 8% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Moncton and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,020 in Moncton 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 Moncton and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $396 in Moncton 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 grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,982 in Moncton versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Moncton but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Moncton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Moncton 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 Moncton or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Moncton 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: Moncton or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Moncton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.