🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $794 in Mutare versus $2,359 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,254 in Mutare versus $3,498 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,714 in Mutare versus $4,638 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Mutare costs roughly 66% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mutare is 40% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mutare
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.82ZWL 262
$17.15€14.86
-42.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.05ZWL 1,309
$68.1€58.9
-27.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.38ZWL 117
$13.64€11.82
-67.89%
Cappuccino
$1.24ZWL 32.96
$2.78€2.41
-55.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66ZWL 17.65
$2.82€2.44
-76.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43ZWL 11.43
$1.96€1.70
-78.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.39ZWL 37.06
$4.43€3.84
-68.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78ZWL 47.41
$4.61€3.99
-61.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mutare
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23ZWL 32.72
$1.27€1.10
-3.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01ZWL 27.04
$2.13€1.85
-52.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33ZWL 35.35
$1.99€1.72
-33.17%
Eggs
$1.93ZWL 51.6
$3.37€2.92
-42.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.06ZWL 81.5
$18.96€16.42
-83.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.90ZWL 104
$9.53€8.26
-59.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.89ZWL 130
$18.73€16.22
-73.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.02ZWL 53.9
$2.65€2.29
-23.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62ZWL 43.14
$2.35€2.04
-31.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99ZWL 53.0
$2.09€1.81
-4.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.97ZWL 26.01
$2.73€2.37
-64.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.54ZWL 41.09
$1.96€1.70
-21.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02ZWL 27.35
$1.81€1.56
-43.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49ZWL 12.97
$1.51€1.31
-67.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99ZWL 26.54
$0.89€0.77
11.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.08ZWL 28.90
$6.78€5.87
-84.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.15ZWL 164
$7.92€6.86
-22.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18ZWL 31.38
$1.37€1.19
-13.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74ZWL 46.29
$2.40€2.08
-27.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Mutare
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48ZWL 12.71
$2.91€2.52
-83.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97ZWL 719
$28.66€24.82
-5.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.92ZWL 78.0
$4.58€3.96
-36.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96ZWL 52.4
$2.04€1.77
-3.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.10ZWL 136
$28.72€24.87
-82.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.56ZWL 41.59
$1.82€1.58
-14.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1KZWL 535.5K
$39.3K€34.0K
-48.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KZWL 622.6K
$32.5K€28.1K
-28.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mutare
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$57.8ZWL 1,541
$187€162
-69.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.22ZWL 406
$22.29€19.30
-31.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.3ZWL 1,610
$36.37€31.50
65.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mutare
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.37ZWL 1,077
$57.5€49.82
-29.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.94ZWL 132
$20.74€17.96
-76.18%
Cinema Ticket
$10.09ZWL 269
$10.77€9.33
-6.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mutare
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$148ZWL 3,951
$725€628
-79.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,359ZWL 196.3K
$15.2K€13.1K
-51.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mutare
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.03ZWL 268
$87.9€76.1
-88.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.58ZWL 255
$36.81€31.88
-73.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$24.60ZWL 656
$103€89.6
-76.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$20.04ZWL 535
$119€103
-83.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mutare
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$351ZWL 9,353
$1,524€1,319
-76.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$255ZWL 6,791
$1,227€1,062
-79.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$763ZWL 20.4K
$2,727€2,362
-72.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$399ZWL 10.6K
$1,984€1,718
-79.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$251ZWL 6,705
$7,469€6,468
-96.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,243€4,541
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mutare
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$248ZWL 6,606
$2,393€2,072
-89.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.31
3.39
292.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mutare: July 25, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $351 in Mutare and $1,524 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 866% 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: $49.00 in Mutare vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $154 vs $319 per month, with Mutare 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
Mutare vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mutare and in Barcelona?
Mutare and Barcelona differ by about 197% in total monthly costs ($794 vs $2,359 including rent). Mutare 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 866% lower in Barcelona. 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 Mutare and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $351 in Mutare versus $1,524 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 Mutare and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $148 in Mutare versus $725 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 108% 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 $794 in Mutare versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mutare but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Mutare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mutare 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 Mutare or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mutare 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: Mutare or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Mutare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 197% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.