🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $921 in Ohrid versus $2,337 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,517 in Ohrid versus $3,468 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,113 in Ohrid versus $4,599 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Ohrid costs roughly 61% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ohrid is 31% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.29MKD 387
$17.08€14.72
-57.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.87MKD 1,797
$69.2€59.7
-51.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.62MKD 351
$13.78€11.87
-51.96%
Cappuccino
$2.30MKD 122
$2.76€2.37
-16.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02MKD 107
$2.79€2.40
-27.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23MKD 65.2
$1.99€1.72
-38.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.66MKD 141
$4.36€3.76
-38.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30MKD 175
$4.74€4.09
-30.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23MKD 65.3
$1.29€1.11
-4.65%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76MKD 40.54
$2.05€1.77
-62.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73MKD 92.0
$1.99€1.71
-13.07%
Eggs
$2.22MKD 118
$3.39€2.92
-34.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.69MKD 461
$18.81€16.21
-53.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99MKD 424
$9.36€8.07
-14.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.86MKD 735
$19.12€16.48
-27.51%
Apples(1kg)
$0.98MKD 51.9
$2.70€2.32
-63.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41MKD 75.1
$2.34€2.02
-39.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.32MKD 69.8
$2.12€1.83
-37.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MKD 115
$2.85€2.46
-24.21%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81MKD 43.04
$1.97€1.70
-58.88%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93MKD 49.22
$1.80€1.55
-48.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72MKD 37.99
$1.45€1.25
-50.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55MKD 29.13
$0.86€0.74
-36.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15MKD 167
$6.78€5.84
-53.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.46MKD 290
$7.90€6.81
-30.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MKD 58.0
$1.39€1.20
-21.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32MKD 70.0
$2.37€2.04
-44.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.14MKD 60.7
$2.92€2.52
-60.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.31MKD 1,131
$28.69€24.72
-25.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91MKD 48.10
$4.46€3.84
-79.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 26.19
$2.05€1.77
-76.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.72MKD 410
$29.55€25.46
-73.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52MKD 80.7
$1.82€1.56
-16.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2KMKD 1.8M
$38.8K€33.5K
-12.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1KMKD 1.5M
$33.1K€28.5K
-12.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160MKD 8,490
$189€163
-15.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.83MKD 946
$22.80€19.65
-21.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.18MKD 1,018
$37.59€32.39
-48.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.96MKD 1,855
$57.7€49.75
-39.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MKD 991
$20.74€17.87
-9.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.41MKD 340
$10.82€9.33
-40.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$277MKD 14.7K
$728€628
-61.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,504MKD 185.9K
$14.8K€12.7K
-76.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.4MKD 4,053
$88.6€76.4
-13.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.30MKD 2,139
$36.85€31.75
9.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.4MKD 5,220
$102€87.9
-3.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110MKD 5,853
$116€100
-4.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$235MKD 12.5K
$1,569€1,352
-85.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$170MKD 9,016
$1,218€1,050
-86.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$557MKD 29.6K
$2,795€2,409
-80.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MKD 24.7K
$1,975€1,702
-76.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,098MKD 111.3K
$7,754€6,680
-72.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,368MKD 72.6K
$5,176€4,460
-73.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$629MKD 33.4K
$2,343€2,019
-73.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.54
3.39
33.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ohrid: June 8, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $235 in Ohrid and $1,569 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 272% 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: $34.00 in Ohrid vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $319 per month, with Ohrid 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
Ohrid vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ohrid and Barcelona?
Ohrid and Barcelona differ by about 154% in total monthly costs ($921 vs $2,337 including rent). Ohrid is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Barcelona earns 272% less. 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 Ohrid and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $235 in Ohrid versus $1,569 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 Ohrid and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $277 in Ohrid versus $728 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 55% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $921 in Ohrid versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ohrid but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Ohrid the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ohrid 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 Ohrid or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ohrid 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: Ohrid or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Ohrid gentler on the wallet – expenses run 154% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.