🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,106 in Ploiesti versus $2,359 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,633 in Ploiesti versus $3,498 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,160 in Ploiesti versus $4,638 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Ploiesti costs roughly 53% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ploiesti is 17% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.66RON 43.91
$17.15€14.86
-43.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.57RON 194
$68.1€58.9
-37.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.77RON 35.33
$13.64€11.82
-43.04%
Cappuccino
$2.60RON 11.82
$2.78€2.41
-6.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90RON 8.63
$2.82€2.44
-32.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90RON 8.65
$1.96€1.70
-3.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.25RON 10.23
$4.43€3.84
-49.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37RON 15.34
$4.61€3.99
-26.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39RON 6.34
$1.27€1.10
9.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.05RON 4.78
$2.13€1.85
-50.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77RON 8.03
$1.99€1.72
-11.06%
Eggs
$3.22RON 14.63
$3.37€2.92
-4.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.80RON 40.00
$18.96€16.42
-53.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.13RON 32.40
$9.53€8.26
-25.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.23RON 41.95
$18.73€16.22
-50.72%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17RON 5.31
$2.65€2.29
-55.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48RON 6.74
$2.35€2.04
-37.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28RON 5.84
$2.09€1.81
-38.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.89RON 8.61
$2.73€2.37
-30.77%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76RON 3.46
$1.96€1.70
-61.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.89RON 4.07
$1.81€1.56
-50.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70RON 3.20
$1.51€1.31
-53.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81RON 3.66
$0.89€0.77
-8.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77RON 26.24
$6.78€5.87
-14.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.01RON 31.87
$7.92€6.86
-11.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91RON 4.15
$1.37€1.19
-33.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44RON 6.55
$2.40€2.08
-40.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61RON 2.76
$2.91€2.52
-79.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.65RON 89.4
$28.66€24.82
-31.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72RON 3.28
$4.58€3.96
-84.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65RON 2.93
$2.04€1.77
-68.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77RON 26.25
$28.72€24.87
-79.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55RON 7.06
$1.82€1.58
-14.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KRON 111.6K
$39.3K€34.0K
-37.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KRON 123.7K
$32.5K€28.1K
-16.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146RON 665
$187€162
-21.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.52RON 38.73
$22.29€19.30
-61.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.10RON 45.93
$36.37€31.50
-72.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.8RON 236
$57.5€49.82
-9.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.24RON 92.0
$20.74€17.96
-2.41%
Cinema Ticket
$6.82RON 30.99
$10.77€9.33
-36.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$419RON 1,906
$725€628
-42.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,861RON 31.2K
$15.2K€13.1K
-54.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.7RON 372
$87.9€76.1
-6.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.76RON 190
$36.81€31.88
13.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.3RON 333
$103€89.6
-29.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.1RON 451
$119€103
-16.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$532RON 2,419
$1,524€1,319
-65.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$335RON 1,523
$1,227€1,062
-72.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$757RON 3,443
$2,727€2,362
-72.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$467RON 2,125
$1,984€1,718
-76.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,976RON 8,983
$7,469€6,468
-73.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,291RON 5,869
$5,243€4,541
-75.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,009RON 4,589
$2,393€2,072
-57.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.62
3.39
95.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ploiesti: July 26, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $532 in Ploiesti and $1,524 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 137% 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: $43.00 in Ploiesti vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $319 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 113% in total monthly costs ($1,106 vs $2,359 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 137% 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: $532 in Ploiesti 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 Ploiesti and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $419 in Ploiesti 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 58% 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 $1,106 in Ploiesti versus $2,359 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 113% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.