Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Targu Frumos and Barcelona

For one person, living is cheaper in Targu Frumos: $998 a month against $2,399 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $16,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Targu Frumos
🇷🇴 Romania
$998
/mo nomad
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,399
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Targu Frumos 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 Targu Frumos and in Barcelona actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $998 in Targu Frumos versus $2,399 in Barcelona.

  • Targu Frumos $998
  • Barcelona $2,399

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,521 in Targu Frumos versus $3,410 in Barcelona.

  • Targu Frumos $1,521
  • Barcelona $3,410

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,043 in Targu Frumos versus $4,421 in Barcelona.

  • Targu Frumos $2,043
  • Barcelona $4,421

Living in Targu Frumos costs roughly 58% less than in Barcelona, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Targu Frumos is 26% below, Barcelona is 78% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.68 RON 50.5
$17.94 €15.96
-40.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.45 RON 201
$68.1 €60.5
-37.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.21 RON 34.12
$13.28 €11.81
-45.71%
Cappuccino
$2.42 RON 11.46
$3.25 €2.89
-25.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 RON 9.86
$3.01 €2.67
-30.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 RON 8.87
$1.87 €1.66
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.05 RON 9.68
$3.85 €3.42
-46.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 RON 15.06
$4.48 €3.98
-29.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 RON 5.56
$1.29 €1.15
-9.30%
White Bread (500g)
$0.70 RON 3.32
$2.04 €1.81
-65.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 RON 8.48
$1.72 €1.53
4.07%
Eggs
$3.41 RON 16.11
$4.77 €4.24
-28.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.51 RON 35.53
$16.77 €14.92
-55.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.94 RON 28.09
$8.93 €7.94
-33.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 RON 40.65
$19.88 €17.68
-56.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.28 RON 6.07
$2.98 €2.65
-57.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 RON 7.52
$2.03 €1.80
-21.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 RON 7.11
$2.73 €2.43
-45.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.76 RON 8.35
$2.68 €2.38
-34.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.95 RON 4.49
$2.10 €1.87
-54.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 RON 4.75
$2.08 €1.85
-51.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 RON 3.78
$1.45 €1.29
-44.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 RON 3.47
$0.89 €0.79
-17.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.60 RON 26.49
$6.94 €6.17
-19.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.29 RON 25.05
$7.78 €6.92
-32.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 RON 4.73
$1.45 €1.29
-31.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 RON 5.61
$2.57 €2.29
-53.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 RON 3.67
$2.99 €2.66
-74.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.57 RON 102
$25.20 €22.41
-14.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.66 RON 3.10
$3.12 €2.77
-78.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 RON 3.02
$1.44 €1.28
-55.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.09 RON 33.52
$33.50 €29.80
-78.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 RON 8.55
$1.79 €1.59
1.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K RON 135.2K
$34.6K €30.8K
-17.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K RON 116.5K
$30.1K €26.7K
-18.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 RON 693
$178 €158
-17.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.75 RON 36.67
$13.32 €11.85
-41.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.69 RON 36.37
$34.88 €31.03
-77.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.18 RON 181
$53.3 €47.37
-28.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.15 RON 95.3
$16.01 €14.24
25.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 RON 29.48
$11.06 €9.84
-43.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$603 RON 2,852
$957 €851
-37.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,996 RON 23.6K
$16.6K €14.7K
-69.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.3 RON 451
$88.2 €78.4
8.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.26 RON 153
$39.49 €35.12
-18.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.0 RON 289
$103 €91.5
-40.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.3 RON 399
$121 €108
-30.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$379 RON 1,795
$1,653 €1,470
-77.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$283 RON 1,337
$1,302 €1,158
-78.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$602 RON 2,848
$2,557 €2,275
-76.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$438 RON 2,073
$1,915 €1,703
-77.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,837 RON 8,691
$7,286 €6,481
-74.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,368 RON 6,472
$5,080 €4,519
-73.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Targu Frumos
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$2,281 €2,029
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
3.28
119.51%

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

Last update for Targu Frumos: October 12, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Targu Frumos
$283
Barcelona
$1.3K 361% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Targu Frumos
$183
Barcelona
$320 74.8% $137
Eating Out
Targu Frumos
$169
Barcelona
$270 60.2% $101
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Targu Frumos
$162
Barcelona
$226 39.6% $64
Clothing & Footwear
Targu Frumos
$123
Barcelona
$158 29% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Targu Frumos
$51
Barcelona
$75 48.8% $25
Getting Around
Targu Frumos
$29
Barcelona
$47 66.5% $19

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $379 in Targu Frumos and $1,653 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Targu Frumos vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $320 per month, with Targu Frumos cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Targu Frumos
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🕒 Local time
12:16 12:16 PM
11:16 11:16 AM
1 h behind Targu Frumos
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
13,875
1,660,122
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to RON – Romanian Leu Converter

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.32 RON (1 RON = 0.188 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Targu Frumos Barcelona 2,070 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Targu Frumos
  • Barcelona

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

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 140% in total monthly costs ($998 vs $2,399 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 $1,497 in Targu Frumos and $3,599 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: $379 in Targu Frumos versus $1,653 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 $603 in Targu Frumos versus $957 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 75% 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 $998 in Targu Frumos versus $2,399 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 140% 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

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