Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Shiraz and Barcelona

For one person, living is cheaper in Shiraz: $551 a month against $2,405 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $22,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Shiraz
🇮🇷 Iran
$551
/mo nomad
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,405
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Shiraz and in Barcelona

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Shiraz and in Barcelona actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $551 in Shiraz versus $2,405 in Barcelona.

  • Shiraz $551
  • Barcelona $2,405

Estimated couple costs with rent: $810 in Shiraz versus $3,477 in Barcelona.

  • Shiraz $810
  • Barcelona $3,477

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,069 in Shiraz versus $4,550 in Barcelona.

  • Shiraz $1,069
  • Barcelona $4,550

Living in Shiraz costs roughly 77% less than in Barcelona, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Shiraz is 59% below, Barcelona is 79% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shiraz
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.62 $4.62
$17.98 €16.05
-74.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.16 $13.16
$67.4 €60.2
-80.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 $3.92
$13.37 €11.93
-70.68%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.03 $1.03
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.17 $1.17
$3.34 €2.98
-64.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 $0.66
$2.95 €2.64
-77.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.90 €1.69
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.88 €3.46
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.57 €4.08
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shiraz
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.67 $0.67
$1.27 €1.13
-47.24%
White Bread (500g)
$0.41 $0.41
$1.96 €1.75
-79.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.90 $1.90
$1.75 €1.56
8.57%
Eggs
$1.22 $1.22
$4.89 €4.36
-75.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$17.47 €15.59
-86.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.95 $2.95
$9.06 €8.09
-67.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.81 $9.81
$20.18 €18.01
-51.39%
Apples (1kg)
$1.12 $1.12
$3.08 €2.75
-63.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.03 €1.81
-24.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.89 $0.89
$2.60 €2.32
-65.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.55 $0.55
$2.71 €2.42
-79.70%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 $0.55
$2.15 €1.92
-74.42%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 $0.55
$2.21 €1.97
-75.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 $0.51
$1.54 €1.38
-66.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.17 $0.17
$0.93 €0.83
-81.72%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.87 $0.87
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 $0.59
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 $3.04
$7.09 €6.32
-57.12%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.63 €6.81
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.49 €1.33
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.73 €2.43
-
🚌 Getting Around
Shiraz
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.11 $0.11
$2.95 €2.63
-96.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.09 $3.09
$25.91 €23.13
-88.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.38 $0.38
$3.13 €2.80
-87.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 $0.21
$1.45 €1.29
-85.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.44 $3.44
$34.17 €30.49
-89.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.79 €1.60
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$66.0K $66.0K
$34.7K €31.0K
90.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.1K $53.1K
$30.3K €27.0K
75.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shiraz
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$23.64 $23.64
$181 €161
-86.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.06 $2.06
$13.56 €12.10
-84.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.07 $17.07
$35.12 €31.34
-51.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shiraz
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.96 $18.96
$53.2 €47.44
-64.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.51 $13.51
$16.05 €14.33
-15.83%
Cinema Ticket
$1.98 $1.98
$11.37 €10.14
-82.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shiraz
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$104 $104
$939 €838
-88.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,421 $2,421
$16.5K €14.7K
-85.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shiraz
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.81 $22.81
$88.2 €78.7
-74.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.49 $18.49
$39.77 €35.49
-53.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$103 €92.3
-7.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.0 $56.0
$119 €107
-53.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shiraz
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$291 $291
$1,695 €1,513
-82.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$217 $217
$1,301 €1,161
-83.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$537 $537
$2,576 €2,299
-79.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$321 $321
$1,941 €1,732
-83.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,164 $1,164
$7,470 €6,666
-84.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$503 $503
$5,195 €4,636
-90.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shiraz
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$243 $243
$2,299 €2,052
-89.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24.3
3.28
640.85%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Shiraz: October 4, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Shiraz
$217
Barcelona
$1.3K 500% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Shiraz
$103
Barcelona
$325 217% $222
Clothing & Footwear
Shiraz
$87
Barcelona
$158 82.2% $71
Eating Out
Shiraz
$65 *
Barcelona
$272 316% $207
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shiraz
$43
Barcelona
$229 436% $187
Sport & Entertainment
Shiraz
$23
Barcelona
$76 231% $53
Getting Around
Shiraz
$5
Barcelona
$48 870% $43

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $291 in Shiraz and $1,695 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 848% 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: $13.00 in Shiraz vs $67.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $325 per month, with Shiraz cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇷 Shiraz
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🕒 Local time
15:28 3:28 PM
13:58 1:58 PM
1 h 30 min behind Shiraz
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,565,572
1,660,122
💱 Currency
USD USD
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – USD Converter

USD exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Shiraz Barcelona 4,670 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Shiraz
  • Barcelona

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Shiraz vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Shiraz and in Barcelona?
Shiraz and Barcelona differ by about 337% in total monthly costs ($551 vs $2,405 including rent). Shiraz 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 848% 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 Shiraz and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $291 in Shiraz versus $1,695 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 Shiraz and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $104 in Shiraz versus $939 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 217% 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 $551 in Shiraz versus $2,405 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Shiraz but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Shiraz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Shiraz 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 Shiraz or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Shiraz 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: Shiraz or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Shiraz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 337% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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