🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,631 in Plzen versus $2,320 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Plzen versus $3,426 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,940 in Plzen versus $4,532 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Plzen costs roughly 30% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Plzen22% above, Barcelona74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.54Kč 202
$17.66€15.45
-45.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.28Kč 980
$69.7€61.0
-33.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.33Kč 176
$14.16€12.39
-41.17%
Cappuccino
$3.02Kč 64.0
$2.80€2.45
7.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01Kč 42.60
$2.81€2.46
-28.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68Kč 35.47
$2.06€1.81
-18.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.73Kč 57.7
$4.60€4.02
-40.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Kč 60.5
$4.69€4.10
-39.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Kč 24.88
$1.23€1.08
-4.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59Kč 33.68
$2.03€1.78
-21.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.44Kč 51.6
$1.98€1.73
23.23%
Eggs
$3.26Kč 69.0
$3.49€3.05
-6.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.66Kč 268
$18.33€16.04
-30.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.99Kč 190
$9.83€8.60
-8.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.39Kč 305
$19.13€16.73
-24.78%
Apples(1kg)
$1.77Kč 37.40
$2.73€2.38
-35.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74Kč 36.78
$2.38€2.09
-26.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.16Kč 45.83
$2.08€1.82
3.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.62Kč 76.7
$2.75€2.41
31.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.25Kč 26.55
$1.96€1.72
-36.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22Kč 25.84
$1.79€1.57
-31.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51Kč 32.07
$1.48€1.29
2.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82Kč 17.33
$0.91€0.80
-9.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.91Kč 146
$7.13€6.24
-3.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.06Kč 150
$7.88€6.89
-10.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12Kč 23.70
$1.38€1.21
-18.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62Kč 34.40
$2.39€2.09
-32.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.23Kč 26.02
$3.01€2.63
-59.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.32Kč 557
$29.35€25.68
-10.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.07Kč 43.84
$4.36€3.82
-52.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.26Kč 26.72
$2.13€1.86
-40.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.28Kč 302
$29.60€25.90
-51.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66Kč 35.15
$1.82€1.59
-8.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KKč 600.3K
$37.9K€33.1K
-25.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9KKč 634.3K
$32.4K€28.3K
-7.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$254Kč 5,374
$189€165
34.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.33Kč 537
$22.29€19.50
13.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.43Kč 433
$37.16€32.51
-45.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.1Kč 1,336
$58.0€50.8
8.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.14Kč 300
$20.66€18.08
-31.56%
Cinema Ticket
$10.38Kč 220
$10.87€9.51
-4.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$326Kč 6,914
$706€618
-53.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,778Kč 185.9K
$14.9K€13.0K
-40.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.5Kč 1,725
$89.4€78.3
-8.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.59Kč 923
$36.60€32.02
19.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.8Kč 1,923
$104€91.0
-12.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113Kč 2,390
$119€104
-5.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645Kč 13.7K
$1,579€1,381
-59.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$606Kč 12.8K
$1,238€1,083
-51.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$885Kč 18.7K
$2,712€2,373
-67.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$841Kč 17.8K
$2,039€1,784
-58.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,107Kč 108.2K
$7,527€6,585
-32.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,091Kč 86.6K
$5,239€4,584
-21.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,934Kč 41.0K
$2,364€2,068
-18.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.47
3.39
61.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Plzen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $645 in Plzen and $1,579 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 22% 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: $46.00 in Plzen vs $70.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $320 per month, with Plzen 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
Plzen vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Plzen and in Barcelona?
Plzen and Barcelona differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($1,631 vs $2,320 including rent). Plzen 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 22% 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 Plzen and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $645 in Plzen versus $1,579 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 Plzen and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $326 in Plzen versus $706 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 19% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,631 in Plzen versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Plzen but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Plzen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Plzen 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 Plzen or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Plzen 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: Plzen or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Plzen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.