Cost of Living Comparison Between Ploiesti and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Ploiesti and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,127 in Ploiesti versus $2,476 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,724 in Ploiesti versus $3,545 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,320 in Ploiesti versus $4,613 in Barcelona.

Living in Ploiesti costs roughly 54% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ploiesti is 18% below, Barcelona is 81% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.86 RON 54.4
$18.74 €16.33
-36.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.01 RON 225
$69.5 €60.6
-29.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.10 RON 37.19
$13.77 €12.00
-41.18%
Cappuccino
$3.13 RON 14.35
$3.10 €2.70
0.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 RON 9.83
$2.83 €2.47
-24.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 RON 10.09
$1.88 €1.64
17.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.69 RON 12.35
$3.98 €3.47
-32.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 RON 16.36
$4.53 €3.95
-21.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 RON 7.49
$1.27 €1.11
28.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 RON 5.68
$2.16 €1.88
-42.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 RON 7.15
$1.76 €1.53
-11.36%
Eggs
$3.31 RON 15.17
$5.13 €4.47
-35.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.23 RON 37.78
$17.88 €15.59
-53.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.04 RON 32.32
$9.65 €8.41
-27.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.53 RON 43.71
$20.15 €17.56
-52.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.37 RON 6.29
$3.25 €2.84
-57.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 RON 8.28
$2.23 €1.94
-18.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 RON 6.98
$2.60 €2.27
-41.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 RON 9.77
$2.76 €2.40
-22.83%
Potato (1kg)
$0.82 RON 3.74
$2.21 €1.93
-62.90%
Onion (1kg)
$0.80 RON 3.66
$2.12 €1.85
-62.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 RON 3.37
$1.55 €1.35
-52.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 RON 3.84
$0.95 €0.83
-11.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.73 RON 30.88
$7.34 €6.40
-8.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.02 RON 32.21
$8.05 €7.01
-12.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 RON 4.57
$1.54 €1.35
-35.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 RON 6.63
$2.79 €2.43
-48.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 RON 4.19
$3.11 €2.71
-70.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.82 RON 100
$25.86 €22.54
-15.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.69 RON 3.17
$3.27 €2.85
-78.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.63 RON 2.89
$1.48 €1.29
-57.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.75 RON 30.97
$34.27 €29.88
-80.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.84 RON 8.44
$1.73 €1.51
6.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K RON 134.9K
$36.4K €31.7K
-19.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K RON 119.7K
$30.5K €26.6K
-14.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 RON 733
$187 €163
-14.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.68 RON 30.65
$15.14 €13.20
-55.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.02 RON 41.40
$37.69 €32.85
-76.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.01 RON 211
$55.9 €48.76
-17.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.10 RON 101
$17.08 €14.89
29.39%
Cinema Ticket
$8.55 RON 39.25
$11.41 €9.95
-25.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$411 RON 1,886
$997 €869
-58.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,170 RON 28.3K
$16.5K €14.4K
-62.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.0 RON 358
$92.6 €80.8
-15.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.09 RON 207
$41.22 €35.93
9.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.6 RON 439
$111 €96.9
-14.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.0 RON 454
$125 €109
-20.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 RON 1,991
$1,707 €1,488
-74.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$301 RON 1,380
$1,286 €1,121
-76.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$606 RON 2,779
$2,565 €2,236
-76.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$475 RON 2,181
$1,942 €1,693
-75.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,019 RON 9,264
$7,647 €6,666
-73.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,285 RON 5,898
$5,167 €4,504
-75.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,045 RON 4,795
$2,348 €2,047
-55.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.85
3.16
148.42%

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

Last update for Ploiesti: September 14, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $434 in Ploiesti and $1,707 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 125% 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 Ploiesti vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $336 per month, with Ploiesti 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
Ploiesti vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ploiesti and in Barcelona?
Ploiesti and Barcelona differ by about 120% in total monthly costs ($1,127 vs $2,476 including rent). Ploiesti 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 125% 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 Ploiesti and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $434 in Ploiesti versus $1,707 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 Ploiesti and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $411 in Ploiesti versus $997 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 60% 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 $1,127 in Ploiesti versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ploiesti but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Ploiesti the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ploiesti 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 Ploiesti or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ploiesti 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: Ploiesti or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Ploiesti gentler on the wallet – expenses run 120% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ploiesti vs other spots: cost of living compared

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