Cost of Living Comparison Between Pachuca and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Pachuca and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $876 in Pachuca versus $2,367 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,437 in Pachuca versus $3,465 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,997 in Pachuca versus $4,563 in Barcelona.

Living in Pachuca costs roughly 63% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Pachuca is 35% below, Barcelona is 77% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pachuca
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.79 MX$82.9
$17.58 €15.12
-72.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.63 MX$426
$68.4 €58.9
-64.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 MX$134
$14.06 €12.09
-44.88%
Cappuccino
$2.85 MX$49.31
$2.78 €2.39
2.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 MX$19.76
$2.80 €2.41
-59.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 MX$13.19
$2.06 €1.78
-63.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.55 MX$26.82
$4.46 €3.84
-65.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 MX$56.0
$4.61 €3.96
-29.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pachuca
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.75
$1.24 €1.07
15.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 MX$49.84
$2.03 €1.74
41.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 MX$31.58
$1.92 €1.65
-4.69%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.49
$3.31 €2.85
-24.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.25 MX$125
$18.43 €15.85
-60.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.44 MX$76.7
$9.49 €8.16
-53.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.42 MX$128
$19.16 €16.48
-61.27%
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 MX$33.39
$2.64 €2.27
-26.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 MX$21.73
$2.45 €2.11
-48.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.31
$2.12 €1.82
-31.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.62 MX$28.09
$2.85 €2.45
-43.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.32
$2.04 €1.75
-28.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.25 MX$21.70
$1.85 €1.59
-32.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 MX$15.43
$1.47 €1.26
-39.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 MX$16.98
$0.84 €0.73
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.24 MX$73.4
$7.14 €6.14
-40.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.60 MX$149
$7.88 €6.78
9.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 MX$22.35
$1.38 €1.19
-6.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 MX$43.38
$2.31 €1.99
8.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Pachuca
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.58 MX$10.05
$2.98 €2.56
-80.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.08 MX$451
$29.26 €25.17
-10.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 MX$44.10
$4.60 €3.95
-44.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.24 MX$21.45
$2.07 €1.78
-40.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.92 MX$137
$29.18 €25.10
-72.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$22.77
$1.84 €1.58
-28.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K MX$319.8K
$39.0K €33.6K
-52.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K MX$365.1K
$32.7K €28.1K
-35.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pachuca
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.2 MX$902
$188 €162
-72.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.38 MX$301
$22.93 €19.73
-24.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.62 MX$391
$36.71 €31.58
-38.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pachuca
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.36 MX$404
$57.4 €49.35
-59.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.41 MX$180
$20.70 €17.80
-49.71%
Cinema Ticket
$4.60 MX$79.5
$11.19 €9.63
-58.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pachuca
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$161 MX$2,790
$721 €620
-77.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,066 MX$53.0K
$15.0K €12.9K
-79.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pachuca
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 MX$920
$86.2 €74.2
-38.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.42 MX$699
$37.07 €31.89
9.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.4 MX$1,633
$102 €87.8
-7.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1 MX$1,299
$116 €99.7
-35.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pachuca
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$385 MX$6,651
$1,534 €1,319
-74.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$266 MX$4,599
$1,220 €1,050
-78.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$726 MX$12.6K
$2,696 €2,319
-73.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 MX$11.5K
$2,013 €1,732
-66.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$770 MX$13.3K
$7,220 €6,211
-89.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$676 MX$11.7K
$5,189 €4,463
-86.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pachuca
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$695 MX$12.0K
$2,359 €2,029
-70.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.75
3.39
217.11%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Pachuca: June 1, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $385 in Pachuca and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 240% 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: $25.00 in Pachuca vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $318 per month, with Pachuca 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
Pachuca vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Pachuca and Barcelona?
Pachuca and Barcelona differ by about 170% in total monthly costs ($876 vs $2,367 including rent). Pachuca 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 240% 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 Pachuca and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $385 in Pachuca 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 Pachuca and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $161 in Pachuca 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 52% 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 $876 in Pachuca versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pachuca but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Pachuca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Pachuca 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 Pachuca or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Pachuca 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: Pachuca or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Pachuca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 170% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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