🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $954 in Ohrid versus $2,359 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,545 in Ohrid versus $3,498 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,135 in Ohrid versus $4,638 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Ohrid costs roughly 60% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ohrid is 28% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.56MKD 406
$17.15€14.96
-55.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.52MKD 1,802
$68.1€59.3
-50.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.71MKD 361
$13.64€11.89
-50.81%
Cappuccino
$2.28MKD 123
$2.78€2.42
-17.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02MKD 109
$2.82€2.46
-28.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24MKD 66.7
$1.96€1.71
-36.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.56MKD 138
$4.43€3.86
-42.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47MKD 186
$4.61€4.01
-24.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23MKD 65.9
$1.27€1.11
-3.15%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79MKD 42.42
$2.13€1.86
-62.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MKD 92.7
$1.99€1.73
-13.57%
Eggs
$2.14MKD 115
$3.37€2.93
-36.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.68MKD 467
$18.96€16.53
-54.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.76MKD 417
$9.53€8.31
-18.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.84MKD 744
$18.73€16.33
-26.11%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03MKD 55.3
$2.65€2.31
-61.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40MKD 75.4
$2.35€2.05
-40.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31MKD 70.2
$2.09€1.82
-37.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MKD 112
$2.73€2.38
-23.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81MKD 43.53
$1.96€1.71
-58.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97MKD 52.1
$1.81€1.58
-46.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72MKD 38.73
$1.51€1.32
-52.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MKD 31.64
$0.89€0.78
-33.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.17MKD 170
$6.78€5.91
-53.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.43MKD 292
$7.92€6.90
-31.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06MKD 56.9
$1.37€1.19
-22.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34MKD 71.8
$2.40€2.09
-44.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.16MKD 62.3
$2.91€2.54
-60.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.02MKD 1,184
$28.66€24.98
-23.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91MKD 48.77
$4.58€3.99
-80.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 26.52
$2.04€1.78
-75.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.49MKD 403
$28.72€25.03
-73.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46MKD 78.7
$1.82€1.59
-19.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6KMKD 1.8M
$39.3K€34.3K
-14.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0KMKD 1.6M
$32.5K€28.3K
-7.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163MKD 8,778
$187€163
-12.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.77MKD 956
$22.29€19.43
-20.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.38MKD 1,042
$36.37€31.71
-46.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.72MKD 1,867
$57.5€50.2
-39.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.06MKD 1,025
$20.74€18.08
-8.10%
Cinema Ticket
$6.55MKD 352
$10.77€9.39
-39.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$284MKD 15.3K
$725€632
-60.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,449MKD 185.5K
$15.2K€13.2K
-77.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.6MKD 4,118
$87.9€76.6
-12.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.98MKD 2,096
$36.81€32.09
5.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100MKD 5,403
$103€90.2
-2.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110MKD 5,931
$119€103
-6.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$233MKD 12.5K
$1,524€1,328
-84.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172MKD 9,263
$1,227€1,070
-85.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$573MKD 30.8K
$2,727€2,378
-78.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MKD 25.2K
$1,984€1,730
-76.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,122MKD 114.1K
$7,469€6,511
-71.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,358MKD 73.0K
$5,243€4,571
-74.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ohrid
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$636MKD 34.2K
$2,393€2,086
-73.41%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $233 in Ohrid and $1,524 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 276% 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 $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 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 in Barcelona?
Ohrid and Barcelona differ by about 147% in total monthly costs ($954 vs $2,359 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, salaries run 276% 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 Ohrid and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $233 in Ohrid 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 Ohrid and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $284 in Ohrid 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 56% 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 $954 in Ohrid versus $2,359 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 147% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.