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: $3,686 in Southampton versus $2,367 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $8,489 in Southampton versus $3,465 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $13.3K in Southampton versus $4,563 in Barcelona.

Living in Southampton is roughly 56% more expensive than Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Southampton 175% above, Barcelona 77% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$59.1 BMD 59.1

$17.58 €15.12

236.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$177 BMD 177

$68.4 €58.9

158.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.88 BMD 14.88

$14.06 €12.09

5.83%

Cappuccino

$6.47 BMD 6.47

$2.78 €2.39

132.73%

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

$3.33 BMD 3.33

$2.80 €2.41

18.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 BMD 2.94

$2.06 €1.78

42.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.90 BMD 9.90

$4.46 €3.84

121.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.40 BMD 8.40

$4.61 €3.96

82.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.34 BMD 4.34

$1.24 €1.07

250.00%

White Bread (500g)

$8.63 BMD 8.63

$2.03 €1.74

325.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.43 BMD 5.43

$1.92 €1.65

182.81%

Eggs

$7.65 BMD 7.65

$3.31 €2.85

131.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.48 BMD 11.48

$18.43 €15.85

-37.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.02 BMD 24.02

$9.49 €8.16

153.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.59 BMD 32.59

$19.16 €16.48

70.09%

Apples (1kg)

$10.18 BMD 10.18

$2.64 €2.27

285.61%

Banana (1kg)

$6.43 BMD 6.43

$2.45 €2.11

162.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$12.66 BMD 12.66

$2.12 €1.82

497.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.41 BMD 11.41

$2.85 €2.45

300.35%

Potato (1kg)

$8.31 BMD 8.31

$2.04 €1.75

307.35%

Onion (1kg)

$5.16 BMD 5.16

$1.85 €1.59

178.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.15 BMD 6.15

$1.47 €1.26

318.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.21 BMD 3.21

$0.84 €0.73

282.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.76 BMD 17.76

$7.14 €6.14

148.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.42 BMD 25.42

$7.88 €6.78

222.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 BMD 5.43

$1.38 €1.19

293.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 BMD 4.39

$2.31 €1.99

90.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.98 €2.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.26 €25.17

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.40 BMD 6.40

$4.60 €3.95

39.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 €1.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$53.8 BMD 53.8

$29.18 €25.10

84.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.01 BMD 2.01

$1.84 €1.58

9.24%

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

$34.3K BMD 34.3K

$39.0K €33.6K

-12.07%

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

$38.4K BMD 38.4K

$32.7K €28.1K

17.54%

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

$232 BMD 232

$188 €162

23.56%

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

$120 BMD 120

$22.93 €19.73

422.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$157 BMD 157

$36.71 €31.58

327.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.4 €49.35

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.70 €17.80

Cinema Ticket

$13.51 BMD 13.51

$11.19 €9.63

20.73%

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

$1,342 BMD 1,342

$721 €620

86.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K BMD 24.4K

$15.0K €12.9K

62.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 BMD 78.5

$86.2 €74.2

-9.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 BMD 60.8

$37.07 €31.89

63.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 BMD 139

$102 €87.8

35.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 BMD 126

$116 €99.7

8.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,534 €1,319

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,518 BMD 1,518

$1,220 €1,050

24.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,696 €2,319

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$7,968 BMD 7,968

$2,013 €1,732

295.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,220 €6,211

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,189 €4,463

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,756 BMD 9,756

$2,359 €2,029

313.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.22

3.39

112.98%

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

Last update for Southampton: June 1, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Southampton pays 314% 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: $177 in Southampton vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $817 vs $318 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 56% in total monthly costs ($3,686 vs $2,367 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Southampton pays 314% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $1,342 in Southampton versus $721 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 $68.0 versus $177 in Southampton. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,367 in Barcelona versus $3,686 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 56% less than in Southampton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.