🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,591 in Plzen versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,308 in Plzen versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,025 in Plzen versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Plzen costs roughly 33% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Plzen19% above, Barcelona77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.25Kč 193
$17.58€15.14
-47.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.92Kč 957
$68.4€58.9
-32.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.42Kč 176
$14.06€12.10
-40.11%
Cappuccino
$3.16Kč 65.9
$2.78€2.39
13.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91Kč 39.80
$2.80€2.41
-31.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67Kč 34.89
$2.06€1.78
-18.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.77Kč 57.7
$4.46€3.84
-37.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74Kč 57.1
$4.61€3.97
-40.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18Kč 24.57
$1.24€1.07
-4.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56Kč 32.44
$2.03€1.75
-23.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.33Kč 48.54
$1.92€1.65
21.35%
Eggs
$3.21Kč 67.0
$3.31€2.85
-3.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.57Kč 262
$18.43€15.87
-31.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.14Kč 191
$9.49€8.17
-3.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.24Kč 297
$19.16€16.50
-25.68%
Apples(1kg)
$1.72Kč 35.90
$2.64€2.27
-34.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77Kč 36.83
$2.45€2.11
-27.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25Kč 46.96
$2.12€1.83
6.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.71Kč 77.3
$2.85€2.45
30.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31Kč 27.30
$2.04€1.75
-35.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23Kč 25.69
$1.85€1.59
-33.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45Kč 30.25
$1.47€1.27
-1.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81Kč 16.99
$0.84€0.73
-3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.95Kč 145
$7.14€6.15
-2.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.04Kč 147
$7.88€6.79
-10.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16Kč 24.19
$1.38€1.19
-15.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56Kč 32.44
$2.31€1.99
-32.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22Kč 25.50
$2.98€2.57
-59.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.44Kč 551
$29.26€25.20
-9.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06Kč 42.87
$4.60€3.96
-55.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22Kč 25.46
$2.07€1.78
-41.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.92Kč 290
$29.18€25.13
-52.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73Kč 36.11
$1.84€1.58
-5.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2KKč 588.4K
$39.0K€33.6K
-27.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1KKč 627.7K
$32.7K€28.2K
-7.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$260Kč 5,422
$188€162
38.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.48Kč 531
$22.93€19.75
11.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.43Kč 426
$36.71€31.61
-44.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.0Kč 1,334
$57.4€49.41
11.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.36Kč 299
$20.70€17.82
-30.63%
Cinema Ticket
$10.23Kč 213
$11.19€9.64
-8.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$328Kč 6,837
$721€621
-54.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,886Kč 185.3K
$15.0K€13.0K
-40.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.6Kč 1,743
$86.2€74.2
-3.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.33Kč 903
$37.07€31.92
16.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.1Kč 1,899
$102€87.9
-10.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114Kč 2,366
$116€99.8
-2.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$671Kč 14.0K
$1,534€1,321
-56.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$607Kč 12.7K
$1,220€1,051
-50.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$876Kč 18.3K
$2,696€2,321
-67.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$850Kč 17.7K
$2,013€1,734
-57.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,838Kč 100.9K
$7,220€6,217
-33.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,939Kč 82.1K
$5,189€4,468
-24.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Plzen
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,989Kč 41.5K
$2,359€2,032
-15.68%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $671 in Plzen and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 19% 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 $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $318 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 Barcelona?
Plzen and Barcelona differ by about 49% in total monthly costs ($1,591 vs $2,367 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, Barcelona earns 19% 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 Plzen and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $671 in Plzen 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 Plzen and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $328 in Plzen 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 19% 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 $1,591 in Plzen versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 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 49% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.