🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $964 in Zalaegerszeg versus $2,359 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,458 in Zalaegerszeg versus $3,498 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,952 in Zalaegerszeg versus $4,638 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Zalaegerszeg costs roughly 59% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Zalaegerszeg is 28% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zalaegerszeg
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.32Ft 3,567
$17.15€14.86
-33.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.7Ft 18.5K
$68.1€58.9
-13.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43Ft 2,657
$13.64€11.82
-38.20%
Cappuccino
$2.21Ft 697
$2.78€2.41
-20.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62Ft 512
$2.82€2.44
-42.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25Ft 395
$1.96€1.70
-36.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.82Ft 573
$4.43€3.84
-58.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89Ft 594
$4.61€3.99
-59.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zalaegerszeg
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04Ft 326
$1.27€1.10
-18.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42Ft 447
$2.13€1.85
-33.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07Ft 652
$1.99€1.72
4.02%
Eggs
$3.10Ft 977
$3.37€2.92
-8.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.67Ft 3,046
$18.96€16.42
-49.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.67Ft 1,470
$9.53€8.26
-51.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.14Ft 2,250
$18.73€16.22
-61.88%
Apples(1kg)
$1.40Ft 441
$2.65€2.29
-47.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.92Ft 604
$2.35€2.04
-18.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.82Ft 573
$2.09€1.81
-12.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.48Ft 1,097
$2.73€2.37
27.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18Ft 372
$1.96€1.70
-39.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26Ft 398
$1.81€1.56
-30.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16Ft 366
$1.51€1.31
-23.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54Ft 169
$0.89€0.77
-39.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.66Ft 2,097
$6.78€5.87
-1.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.27Ft 1,975
$7.92€6.86
-20.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90Ft 284
$1.37€1.19
-34.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46Ft 459
$2.40€2.08
-39.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Zalaegerszeg
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.09Ft 342
$2.91€2.52
-62.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.44Ft 5,494
$28.66€24.82
-39.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22Ft 1,015
$4.58€3.96
-29.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02Ft 321
$2.04€1.77
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83Ft 5,931
$28.72€24.87
-34.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82Ft 572
$1.82€1.58
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KFt 8.3M
$39.3K€34.0K
-33.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6KFt 10.0M
$32.5K€28.1K
-2.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zalaegerszeg
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135Ft 42.4K
$187€162
-27.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.61Ft 8,383
$22.29€19.30
19.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.00Ft 6,300
$36.37€31.50
-45.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zalaegerszeg
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.31Ft 11.4K
$57.5€49.82
-36.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.25Ft 10.8K
$20.74€17.96
65.14%
Cinema Ticket
$7.07Ft 2,228
$10.77€9.33
-34.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zalaegerszeg
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$200Ft 63.0K
$725€628
-72.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,237Ft 2.0M
$15.2K€13.1K
-58.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zalaegerszeg
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.12Ft 9,174
$87.9€76.1
-66.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.62Ft 7,127
$36.81€31.88
-38.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.89Ft 15.1K
$103€89.6
-53.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.0Ft 16.1K
$119€103
-56.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zalaegerszeg
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$317Ft 99.9K
$1,524€1,319
-79.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$272Ft 85.8K
$1,227€1,062
-77.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425Ft 133.8K
$2,727€2,362
-84.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$286Ft 90.1K
$1,984€1,718
-85.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,887Ft 594.4K
$7,469€6,468
-74.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,589Ft 500.7K
$5,243€4,541
-69.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zalaegerszeg
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$784Ft 246.9K
$2,393€2,072
-67.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7
3.39
106.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zalaegerszeg: July 25, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $317 in Zalaegerszeg and $1,524 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 205% 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: $59.0 in Zalaegerszeg vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $319 per month, with Zalaegerszeg 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
Zalaegerszeg vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Zalaegerszeg and in Barcelona?
Zalaegerszeg and Barcelona differ by about 145% in total monthly costs ($964 vs $2,359 including rent). Zalaegerszeg is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 205% lower in Barcelona. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Zalaegerszeg and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $317 in Zalaegerszeg versus $1,524 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 Zalaegerszeg and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $200 in Zalaegerszeg versus $725 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 60% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $964 in Zalaegerszeg versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zalaegerszeg but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Zalaegerszeg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Zalaegerszeg 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 Zalaegerszeg or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Zalaegerszeg 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: Zalaegerszeg or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Zalaegerszeg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 145% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Zalaegerszeg vs other spots: cost of living compared