🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,459 in Perugia versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,363 in Perugia versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,268 in Perugia versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Perugia costs roughly 38% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perugia9% above, Barcelona77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Perugia
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.09€14.70
$17.58€15.12
-2.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.4€65.7
$68.4€58.9
11.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.79€10.14
$14.06€12.09
-16.15%
Cappuccino
$1.62€1.40
$2.78€2.39
-41.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$2.80€2.41
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.24
$2.06€1.78
-30.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.78€4.97
$4.46€3.84
29.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.14€4.42
$4.61€3.96
11.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Perugia
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39€1.20
$1.24€1.07
12.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.01€1.73
$2.03€1.74
-0.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.56€2.21
$1.92€1.65
33.33%
Eggs
$4.01€3.45
$3.31€2.85
21.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.95€12.86
$18.43€15.85
-18.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.57€10.81
$9.49€8.16
32.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.69€15.22
$19.16€16.48
-7.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.57€1.35
$2.64€2.27
-40.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.82€1.57
$2.45€2.11
-25.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.84€1.58
$2.12€1.82
-13.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30€1.98
$2.85€2.45
-19.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47€1.26
$2.04€1.75
-27.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$1.85€1.59
0.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52€1.31
$1.47€1.26
3.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41€0.35
$0.84€0.73
-51.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.92€5.09
$7.14€6.14
-17.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.32€5.44
$7.88€6.78
-19.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.47
$1.38€1.19
23.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.33
$2.31€1.99
-33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Perugia
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.79€1.54
$2.98€2.56
-39.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.0€55.0
$29.26€25.17
118.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.54€3.04
$4.60€3.95
-23.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.21€1.04
$2.07€1.78
-41.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.49€25.36
$29.18€25.10
1.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95€1.68
$1.84€1.58
5.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K€25.0K
$39.0K€33.6K
-25.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K€23.8K
$32.7K€28.1K
-15.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Perugia
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€161
$188€162
-0.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.15€12.17
$22.93€19.73
-38.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.67€26.38
$36.71€31.58
-16.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Perugia
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.45€39.10
$57.4€49.35
-20.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.67€23.80
$20.70€17.80
33.67%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€7.93
$11.19€9.63
-17.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Perugia
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€523
$721€620
-15.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,148€3,569
$15.0K€12.9K
-72.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Perugia
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8€57.5
$86.2€74.2
-22.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.83€27.38
$37.07€31.89
-14.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.6€70.2
$102€87.8
-20.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.7€73.7
$116€99.7
-26.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Perugia
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$495€426
$1,534€1,319
-67.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$413€356
$1,220€1,050
-66.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,039€893
$2,696€2,319
-61.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779€670
$2,013€1,732
-61.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,943€1,671
$7,220€6,211
-73.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,111€956
$5,189€4,463
-78.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Perugia
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,663€1,430
$2,359€2,029
-29.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.93
3.39
45.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Perugia: June 2, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $495 in Perugia and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 42% 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: $76.0 in Perugia vs $68.0 in Barcelona. Groceries flip the comparison at $302 vs $318, with Perugia 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
Perugia vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Perugia and Barcelona?
Perugia and Barcelona differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($1,459 vs $2,367 including rent). Perugia 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 42% 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 Perugia and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $495 in Perugia 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 Perugia and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $608 in Perugia 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 5% 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 $1,459 in Perugia versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Perugia but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Perugia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Perugia 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 Perugia or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Perugia 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: Perugia or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Perugia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.