πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $991 in Samsun versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,509 in Samsun versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,027 in Samsun versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
πLiving in Samsun costs roughly 58% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Samsun is 26% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Samsun
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.65βΊ351
$17.58β¬15.12
-56.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.10βΊ1,153
$68.4β¬58.9
-63.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.99βΊ413
$14.06β¬12.09
-36.06%
Cappuccino
$2.81βΊ129
$2.78β¬2.39
1.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30βΊ59.9
$2.80β¬2.41
-53.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24βΊ10.97
$2.06β¬1.78
-88.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.84βΊ130
$4.46β¬3.84
-36.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97βΊ136
$4.61β¬3.96
-35.57%
π Groceries & Markets
Samsun
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05βΊ48.41
$1.24β¬1.07
-15.32%
White Bread(500g)
$0.40βΊ18.32
$2.03β¬1.74
-80.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.90βΊ179
$1.92β¬1.65
103.13%
Eggs
$1.71βΊ78.6
$3.31β¬2.85
-48.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.10βΊ418
$18.43β¬15.85
-50.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.02βΊ460
$9.49β¬8.16
5.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.35βΊ889
$19.16β¬16.48
0.99%
Apples(1kg)
$1.30βΊ59.6
$2.64β¬2.27
-50.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12βΊ51.3
$2.45β¬2.11
-54.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92βΊ42.10
$2.12β¬1.82
-56.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24βΊ57.1
$2.85β¬2.45
-56.49%
Potato(1kg)
$0.60βΊ27.70
$2.04β¬1.75
-70.59%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60βΊ27.77
$1.85β¬1.59
-67.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73βΊ33.76
$1.47β¬1.26
-50.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68βΊ31.29
$0.84β¬0.73
-19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04βΊ93.9
$7.14β¬6.14
-71.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.62βΊ442
$7.88β¬6.78
22.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01βΊ92.5
$1.38β¬1.19
45.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50βΊ115
$2.31β¬1.99
8.23%
π Getting Around
Samsun
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59βΊ27.00
$2.98β¬2.56
-80.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.66βΊ444
$29.26β¬25.17
-66.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.26βΊ104
$4.60β¬3.95
-50.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61βΊ27.90
$2.07β¬1.78
-70.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.65βΊ214
$29.18β¬25.10
-84.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13βΊ51.8
$1.84β¬1.58
-38.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.8KβΊ2.0M
$39.0Kβ¬33.6K
9.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$49.6KβΊ2.3M
$32.7Kβ¬28.1K
51.66%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samsun
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.83βΊ2,290
$188β¬162
-73.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99βΊ505
$22.93β¬19.73
-52.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.23βΊ516
$36.71β¬31.58
-69.41%
π Sport & Entertainment
Samsun
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$82.3βΊ3,780
$57.4β¬49.35
43.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.70β¬17.80
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.75βΊ264
$11.19β¬9.63
-48.61%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Samsun
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$500βΊ23.0K
$721β¬620
-30.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,735βΊ171.6K
$15.0Kβ¬12.9K
-75.17%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Samsun
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.79βΊ1,736
$86.2β¬74.2
-56.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.67βΊ2,098
$37.07β¬31.89
23.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.8βΊ4,033
$102β¬87.8
-13.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$45.24βΊ2,079
$116β¬99.7
-60.97%
π Accommodation & Living
Samsun
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500βΊ23.0K
$1,534β¬1,319
-67.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$328βΊ15.1K
$1,220β¬1,050
-73.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$724βΊ33.3K
$2,696β¬2,319
-73.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$523βΊ24.0K
$2,013β¬1,732
-74.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$795βΊ36.5K
$7,220β¬6,211
-88.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$429βΊ19.7K
$5,189β¬4,463
-91.73%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Samsun
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,006βΊ46.2K
$2,359β¬2,029
-57.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
43.33
3.39
1178.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Samsun: June 2, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Samsun and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Barcelona pays 134% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $25.00 in Samsun vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $318 per month, with Samsun 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
Samsun vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Samsun and Barcelona?
Samsun and Barcelona differ by about 139% in total monthly costs ($991 vs $2,367 including rent). Samsun is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Barcelona earns 134% 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 Samsun and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Samsun 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 Samsun and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $500 in Samsun 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 30% 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 $991 in Samsun versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Samsun but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Samsun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Samsun and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Samsun or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Samsun 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: Samsun or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Samsun gentler on the wallet β expenses run 139% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.