Cost of Living Comparison Between Southampton and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Southampton and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,784 in Southampton versus $2,482 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $8,320 in Southampton versus $3,548 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $12.9K in Southampton versus $4,613 in Barcelona.

Living in Southampton is roughly 52% more expensive than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Southampton 174% above, Barcelona 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$54.6 BMD 54.6

$18.42 €15.84

196.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$151 BMD 151

$69.4 €59.7

117.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.12 BMD 17.12

$14.05 €12.08

21.85%

Cappuccino

$6.22 BMD 6.22

$3.11 €2.67

100.00%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 BMD 3.03

$2.96 €2.54

2.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 BMD 3.03

$1.95 €1.68

55.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.54 BMD 7.54

$3.99 €3.43

88.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.98 BMD 8.98

$4.62 €3.97

94.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.60 BMD 4.60

$1.32 €1.14

248.48%

White Bread (500g)

$8.26 BMD 8.26

$2.11 €1.81

291.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 BMD 5.60

$1.83 €1.57

206.01%

Eggs

$7.41 BMD 7.41

$5.16 €4.44

43.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.57 BMD 18.57

$17.56 €15.10

5.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.17 BMD 23.17

$9.50 €8.17

143.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.70 BMD 27.70

$19.93 €17.14

38.99%

Apples (1kg)

$12.72 BMD 12.72

$3.17 €2.72

301.26%

Banana (1kg)

$6.45 BMD 6.45

$2.21 €1.90

191.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.15 BMD 7.15

$2.61 €2.24

173.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.90 BMD 3.90

$2.85 €2.45

36.84%

Potato (1kg)

$7.19 BMD 7.19

$2.17 €1.87

231.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 BMD 3.08

$2.11 €1.81

45.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.83 BMD 6.83

$1.62 €1.39

321.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.53 BMD 3.53

$0.88 €0.76

301.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.56 BMD 17.56

$7.17 €6.16

144.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.29 BMD 25.29

$8.33 €7.16

203.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.08 BMD 5.08

$1.50 €1.29

238.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 BMD 4.52

$2.75 €2.37

64.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.14 €2.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.25 €22.57

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.59 BMD 6.59

$3.22 €2.77

104.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 BMD 2.93

$1.51 €1.30

94.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$71.1 BMD 71.1

$35.26 €30.31

101.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.13 BMD 2.13

$1.75 €1.51

21.71%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.8K BMD 36.8K

$36.7K €31.5K

0.46%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$42.7K BMD 42.7K

$31.7K €27.2K

34.69%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$254 BMD 254

$187 €161

35.54%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$148 BMD 148

$15.10 €12.98

877.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$159 BMD 159

$37.60 €32.33

324.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 €47.71

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.74 €14.39

Cinema Ticket

$13.57 BMD 13.57

$11.71 €10.07

15.88%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,339 BMD 1,339

$1,011 €869

32.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.1K BMD 25.1K

$17.1K €14.7K

46.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 BMD 91.6

$91.4 €78.6

0.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.9 BMD 69.9

$41.00 €35.25

70.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 BMD 145

$111 €95.1

30.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 BMD 127

$126 €108

0.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,704 €1,465

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,516 BMD 1,516

$1,299 €1,117

16.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,588 €2,225

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$8,132 BMD 8,132

$1,929 €1,659

321.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,732 €6,648

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,384 €4,629

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,739 BMD 9,739

$2,374 €2,041

310.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.63

3.16

173.10%

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

Last update for Southampton: September 5, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Southampton pays 310% 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: $151 in Southampton vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $768 vs $333 per month, with Barcelona 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

Southampton vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Southampton and Barcelona differ by about 52% in total monthly costs ($3,784 vs $2,482 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 310% higher in Southampton, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $1,339 in Southampton versus $1,011 in Barcelona. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Barcelona – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $151 in Southampton. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,482 in Barcelona versus $3,784 in Southampton, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Southampton. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Southampton 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.

Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Southampton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.