๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,131 in Villeurbanne versus $2,356 in Barcelona.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,001 in Villeurbanne versus $3,455 in Barcelona.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,870 in Villeurbanne versus $4,553 in Barcelona.
๐Living in Villeurbanne costs roughly 10% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Villeurbanne58% above, Barcelona75% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Villeurbanne
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.22โฌ14.65
$17.64โฌ15.01
-2.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.6โฌ48.97
$68.1โฌ58.0
-15.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.54โฌ11.52
$13.96โฌ11.88
-3.01%
Cappuccino
$4.01โฌ3.41
$2.76โฌ2.35
45.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84โฌ2.42
$2.76โฌ2.35
2.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93โฌ1.64
$1.97โฌ1.67
-2.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.67โฌ4.83
$4.53โฌ3.85
25.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.96โฌ5.93
$4.53โฌ3.85
53.64%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Villeurbanne
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40โฌ1.19
$1.24โฌ1.05
12.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.62โฌ2.23
$2.04โฌ1.73
28.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.63โฌ2.24
$1.91โฌ1.63
37.70%
Eggs
$4.03โฌ3.43
$3.39โฌ2.89
18.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34โฌ16.45
$18.34โฌ15.60
5.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.49โฌ13.18
$9.39โฌ7.99
64.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.45โฌ21.65
$18.90โฌ16.08
34.66%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09โฌ2.63
$2.63โฌ2.23
17.49%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48โฌ2.11
$2.40โฌ2.04
3.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.56โฌ3.03
$2.12โฌ1.80
67.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.84โฌ3.27
$2.70โฌ2.30
42.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.35โฌ2.00
$2.05โฌ1.75
14.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.86โฌ2.43
$1.78โฌ1.52
60.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47โฌ1.25
$1.47โฌ1.25
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86โฌ0.73
$0.91โฌ0.77
-5.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.67โฌ11.63
$7.01โฌ5.97
95.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.35โฌ7.11
$7.59โฌ6.46
10.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.05โฌ2.60
$1.44โฌ1.22
111.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21โฌ2.73
$2.32โฌ1.97
38.36%
๐ Getting Around
Villeurbanne
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33โฌ1.98
$2.94โฌ2.50
-20.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$84.6โฌ72.0
$29.38โฌ25.00
187.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.15โฌ4.38
$4.53โฌ3.85
13.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90โฌ1.62
$2.14โฌ1.82
-11.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.37โฌ28.40
$28.97โฌ24.65
15.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01โฌ1.71
$1.89โฌ1.61
6.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0Kโฌ31.5K
$39.0Kโฌ33.2K
-5.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3Kโฌ31.8K
$32.4Kโฌ27.6K
15.06%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Villeurbanne
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$196โฌ167
$189โฌ161
4.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.85โฌ19.44
$22.24โฌ18.92
2.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.21โฌ29.11
$36.57โฌ31.12
-6.45%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Villeurbanne
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.05โฌ31.53
$58.0โฌ49.38
-36.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.15โฌ15.45
$21.30โฌ18.13
-14.79%
Cinema Ticket
$14.01โฌ11.92
$11.01โฌ9.37
27.25%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Villeurbanne
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$752โฌ640
$731โฌ622
2.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,953โฌ6,768
$14.8Kโฌ12.6K
-46.38%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Villeurbanne
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101โฌ85.5
$89.3โฌ76.0
12.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.10โฌ39.23
$37.38โฌ31.81
23.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120โฌ102
$105โฌ89.0
15.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$179โฌ152
$116โฌ99.0
53.70%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Villeurbanne
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,038โฌ883
$1,551โฌ1,320
-33.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$763โฌ649
$1,216โฌ1,035
-37.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,198โฌ1,019
$2,799โฌ2,382
-57.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$894โฌ761
$2,008โฌ1,709
-55.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,248โฌ4,466
$7,161โฌ6,094
-26.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,985โฌ2,540
$5,021โฌ4,273
-40.55%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Villeurbanne
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,809โฌ3,241
$2,462โฌ2,095
54.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.67
3.39
8.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Villeurbanne: April 14, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,038 in Villeurbanne and $1,551 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐVilleurbanne pays 55% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $58 in Villeurbanne vs $68 in Barcelona. Groceries flip the comparison at $410 vs $316, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.
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
Villeurbanne vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Villeurbanne and Barcelona?
Villeurbanne and Barcelona differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($2,131 vs $2,356 including rent). Villeurbanne is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Villeurbanne or Barcelona?
Villeurbanne pays 55% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Villeurbanne and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,038 in Villeurbanne versus $1,551 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 Villeurbanne and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $752 in Villeurbanne versus $731 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?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 30% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,131 in Villeurbanne versus $2,356 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Villeurbanne but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Villeurbanne the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Villeurbanne and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Villeurbanne or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Villeurbanne 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: Villeurbanne or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Villeurbanne gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 11% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Villeurbanne vs other spots: cost of living compared