🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,115 in Ploiesti versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,625 in Ploiesti versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,136 in Ploiesti versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Ploiesti costs roughly 52% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ploiesti is 17% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.71RON 42.35
$17.61€15.08
-44.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.01RON 183
$68.7€58.8
-38.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.99RON 34.86
$13.75€11.77
-41.89%
Cappuccino
$2.65RON 11.54
$2.76€2.36
-3.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92RON 8.35
$2.78€2.38
-30.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91RON 8.32
$2.05€1.75
-6.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26RON 9.86
$4.61€3.94
-50.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46RON 15.10
$4.59€3.93
-24.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40RON 6.09
$1.28€1.10
9.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09RON 4.73
$2.11€1.81
-48.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68RON 7.33
$1.97€1.69
-14.72%
Eggs
$3.41RON 14.86
$3.44€2.95
-0.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.67RON 37.79
$18.83€16.12
-53.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.87RON 29.94
$9.45€8.09
-27.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.01RON 39.28
$19.01€16.27
-52.60%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22RON 5.32
$2.72€2.33
-55.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40RON 6.12
$2.37€2.03
-40.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.34RON 5.85
$2.08€1.78
-35.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.88RON 8.20
$2.76€2.36
-31.88%
Potato(1kg)
$0.77RON 3.35
$1.97€1.69
-60.91%
Onion(1kg)
$0.89RON 3.88
$1.79€1.53
-50.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71RON 3.08
$1.51€1.29
-52.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80RON 3.48
$0.90€0.77
-11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.75RON 25.06
$6.76€5.79
-14.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.71RON 29.25
$7.55€6.46
-11.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93RON 4.04
$1.44€1.23
-35.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37RON 5.96
$2.41€2.06
-43.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55RON 2.41
$3.03€2.59
-81.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.28RON 84.1
$28.39€24.30
-32.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71RON 3.10
$4.43€3.79
-83.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.66RON 2.86
$2.05€1.76
-67.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78RON 25.19
$29.33€25.11
-80.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62RON 7.05
$1.89€1.62
-14.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KRON 110.7K
$38.7K€33.2K
-34.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KRON 118.5K
$32.4K€27.7K
-16.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146RON 638
$189€161
-22.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.48RON 36.97
$22.21€19.01
-61.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.81RON 42.78
$36.82€31.52
-73.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.9RON 222
$58.0€49.64
-12.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.18RON 88.0
$20.99€17.97
-3.86%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11RON 30.98
$11.05€9.46
-35.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$424RON 1,850
$726€622
-41.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,841RON 29.8K
$15.2K€13.0K
-55.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.8RON 357
$88.3€75.6
-7.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.15RON 188
$36.98€31.66
16.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.6RON 330
$103€87.8
-26.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.8RON 422
$119€102
-18.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$529RON 2,307
$1,526€1,307
-65.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$336RON 1,466
$1,218€1,043
-72.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$757RON 3,302
$2,794€2,392
-72.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$469RON 2,045
$2,027€1,735
-76.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,052RON 8,948
$7,094€6,073
-71.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,358RON 5,919
$4,849€4,151
-72.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ploiesti
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,080RON 4,709
$2,404€2,058
-55.08%
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $529 in Ploiesti and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 123% 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: $42.00 in Ploiesti vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $320 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 Barcelona?
Ploiesti and Barcelona differ by about 110% in total monthly costs ($1,115 vs $2,341 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, Barcelona earns 123% 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 Ploiesti and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $529 in Ploiesti versus $1,526 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 $424 in Ploiesti versus $726 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 61% 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 $1,115 in Ploiesti versus $2,341 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 110% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.