🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,112 in Portmore versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,853 in Portmore versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,594 in Portmore versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Portmore costs roughly 53% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Portmore is 17% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Portmore
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.82JMD 757
$17.61€15.08
-72.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9JMD 9,885
$68.7€58.8
-8.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.78JMD 1,380
$13.75€11.77
-36.15%
Cappuccino
$4.23JMD 665
$2.76€2.36
53.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69JMD 108
$2.78€2.38
-75.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50JMD 78.8
$2.05€1.75
-75.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85JMD 291
$4.61€3.94
-59.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23JMD 350
$4.59€3.93
-51.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Portmore
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.05JMD 479
$1.28€1.10
138.28%
White Bread(500g)
$3.63JMD 571
$2.11€1.81
72.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99JMD 155
$1.97€1.69
-49.75%
Eggs
$3.53JMD 554
$3.44€2.95
2.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.18JMD 1,757
$18.83€16.12
-40.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.44JMD 1,011
$9.45€8.09
-31.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.50JMD 1,178
$19.01€16.27
-60.55%
Apples(1kg)
$5.99JMD 941
$2.72€2.33
120.22%
Banana(1kg)
$3.11JMD 488
$2.37€2.03
31.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.95JMD 464
$2.08€1.78
41.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.06JMD 481
$2.76€2.36
10.87%
Potato(1kg)
$2.01JMD 315
$1.97€1.69
2.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99JMD 313
$1.79€1.53
11.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59JMD 250
$1.51€1.29
5.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28JMD 201
$0.90€0.77
42.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.71JMD 1,368
$6.76€5.79
28.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.49JMD 1,804
$7.55€6.46
52.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84JMD 446
$1.44€1.23
97.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26JMD 354
$2.41€2.06
-6.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Portmore
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.60JMD 252
$3.03€2.59
-47.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.9JMD 9,884
$28.39€24.30
121.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91JMD 143
$4.43€3.79
-79.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.25JMD 510
$2.05€1.76
58.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.29JMD 988
$29.33€25.11
-78.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08JMD 170
$1.89€1.62
-42.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.7KJMD 6.7M
$38.7K€33.2K
10.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8KJMD 5.3M
$32.4K€27.7K
4.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portmore
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$156JMD 24.5K
$189€161
-17.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.40JMD 3,518
$22.21€19.01
0.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.8JMD 8,129
$36.82€31.52
40.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Portmore
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$58.0€49.64
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.99€17.97
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.17JMD 2,068
$11.05€9.46
19.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Portmore
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224JMD 35.2K
$726€622
-69.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,479JMD 389.4K
$15.2K€13.0K
-83.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Portmore
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.93JMD 4,073
$88.3€75.6
-70.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.32JMD 3,977
$36.98€31.66
-31.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.7JMD 11.0K
$103€87.8
-32.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.9JMD 11.8K
$119€102
-37.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Portmore
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$314JMD 49.4K
$1,526€1,307
-79.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$215JMD 33.8K
$1,218€1,043
-82.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$646JMD 101.5K
$2,794€2,392
-76.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$598JMD 93.8K
$2,027€1,735
-70.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,724JMD 1.2M
$7,094€6,073
8.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,745JMD 902.3K
$4,849€4,151
18.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Portmore
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,267JMD 199.0K
$2,404€2,058
-47.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
3.39
169.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Portmore: April 27, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $314 in Portmore and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 90% 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: $63.0 in Portmore vs $69.0 in Barcelona. Groceries flip the comparison at $322 vs $320, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.
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
Portmore vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Portmore and Barcelona?
Portmore and Barcelona differ by about 111% in total monthly costs ($1,112 vs $2,341 including rent). Portmore 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 90% 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 Portmore and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $314 in Portmore 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 Portmore and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $224 in Portmore 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?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,112 in Portmore versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Portmore but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Portmore the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Portmore 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 Portmore or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Portmore 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: Portmore or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Portmore gentler on the wallet – expenses run 111% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.