🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $977 in Targu Frumos versus $2,434 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,488 in Targu Frumos versus $3,473 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,000 in Targu Frumos versus $4,512 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Targu Frumos costs roughly 60% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Targu Frumos is 29% below, Barcelona is 78% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.60RON 38.65
$18.80€16.09
-54.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.33RON 195
$69.5€59.4
-37.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.41RON 37.76
$14.08€12.05
-40.27%
Cappuccino
$2.38RON 10.71
$3.12€2.66
-23.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56RON 7.00
$2.91€2.49
-46.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24RON 5.57
$1.87€1.60
-33.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.00RON 8.98
$4.00€3.42
-50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40RON 10.79
$4.64€3.97
-48.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40RON 6.29
$1.19€1.02
17.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.17RON 5.25
$2.13€1.82
-45.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49RON 6.67
$1.84€1.57
-19.02%
Eggs
$3.07RON 13.78
$5.13€4.39
-40.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.31RON 37.31
$16.39€14.02
-49.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.17RON 27.73
$9.71€8.31
-36.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.67RON 47.92
$19.65€16.81
-45.70%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03RON 4.64
$3.13€2.68
-67.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38RON 6.21
$2.18€1.87
-36.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45RON 6.51
$2.46€2.11
-41.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96RON 8.82
$2.77€2.37
-29.24%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79RON 3.53
$2.12€1.82
-62.74%
Onion(1kg)
$0.53RON 2.38
$2.23€1.90
-76.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.86RON 3.85
$1.49€1.27
-42.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78RON 3.52
$0.91€0.78
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.30RON 28.32
$7.26€6.21
-13.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.58RON 34.05
$8.29€7.09
-8.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07RON 4.80
$1.54€1.32
-30.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62RON 7.29
$2.68€2.30
-39.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74RON 3.33
$3.07€2.63
-75.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.57RON 110
$25.93€22.18
-5.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.85RON 3.83
$3.34€2.86
-74.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90RON 4.05
$1.88€1.61
-52.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.79RON 35.01
$34.98€29.92
-77.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84RON 8.26
$1.74€1.49
5.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1KRON 130.6K
$36.5K€31.2K
-20.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KRON 120.4K
$31.5K€27.0K
-14.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106RON 474
$183€156
-42.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.75RON 43.79
$15.70€13.43
-37.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.75RON 39.33
$36.73€31.42
-76.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.65RON 183
$53.5€45.76
-24.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.77RON 88.8
$17.13€14.65
15.41%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70RON 30.11
$11.51€9.85
-41.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$449RON 2,017
$952€815
-52.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,149RON 32.1K
$16.2K€13.8K
-55.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9RON 251
$82.5€70.5
-32.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.24RON 140
$40.47€34.62
-22.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.7RON 362
$108€92.2
-25.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.8RON 363
$125€107
-35.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$418RON 1,877
$1,668€1,426
-74.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$297RON 1,333
$1,288€1,101
-76.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$641RON 2,879
$2,663€2,278
-75.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$466RON 2,093
$1,904€1,628
-75.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,003RON 8,996
$7,513€6,427
-73.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430RON 6,425
$5,178€4,429
-72.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,451€2,096
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.47
3.12
139.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Targu Frumos: August 15, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $418 in Targu Frumos and $1,668 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Targu Frumos vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $328 per month, with Targu Frumos 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
Targu Frumos vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Targu Frumos and in Barcelona?
Targu Frumos and Barcelona differ by about 149% in total monthly costs ($977 vs $2,434 including rent). Targu Frumos is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Targu Frumos compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $1,466 in Targu Frumos and $3,651 in Barcelona to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Targu Frumos and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $418 in Targu Frumos versus $1,668 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 Targu Frumos and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $449 in Targu Frumos versus $952 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 63% 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 $977 in Targu Frumos versus $2,434 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Targu Frumos but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Targu Frumos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Targu Frumos 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 Targu Frumos or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Targu Frumos 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: Targu Frumos or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Targu Frumos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 149% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Targu Frumos vs other spots: cost of living compared