Living cost in Barcelona

Whether you are coming to Barcelona to live there or simply to spend a holiday, one of the most important steps in preparing for your visit is the definition of the budget to be budgeted on site. We have put together a list of the most common expenses so that you have an idea of the prices. These are average prices, not an exact scale: they may vary depending on the neighbourhood or the season for example. For long stays, the most affordable option in terms of accommodation is probably rooming.

If you are moving with your family or moving to Barcelona as a result of a transfer or career change, you will also need to find a place to stay. To find a home, you will have the choice between several ways.

Renting

You can, for example, look for your accommodation on a local real estate site, very convenient if you start looking a few months before your departure. There are several specialized sites, such as “Idealista” or “Habitaclia”, that can help you in your efforts without leaving your home.

The average price in Barcelona in September 2019 was 980€ for less than 60 square meters and 1250€ between 60 and 90 square meters. If you are an active young person without children, a room in a shared apartment in Barcelona is a great way to save on rent but also to get acquainted on the spot and not feel too lonely in a big and new city! It costs between 300 and 500€ for a room in a roommate. Barcelona is for sure not the cheapest city to live in but compared to the other big cities in Europe, it is totally worth it. Barcelona is only the 17th city in the term of cost for a living, far away from Paris or Singapour.

Groceries

Food and everyday consumption are traditionally lower in Spain, and Barcelona is no exception. However, food prices in Barcelona vary a lot between neighbourhoods and the tourist district. Along the Rambla, one can sometimes pay for a bottle of water, two or three times more expensive: 39 cents in a supermarket, against 2 euros in tourist areas, and 1.97 euros on average in Paris. Many foods are also cheaper in Barcelona, where the kilo of rice, for example, is about 70 cents, compared to 2.06 in Paris.
Restaurants are also cheaper in the Catalan capital, although again prices vary from single to double depending on the area. Count about thirty euros for a classic restaurant

Going out

It is in the “going out ” budget that we can see a clear difference in the cost of living between big cities and Barcelona. At 2.50 euros for a pint of beer, about 10 euros for lunch with dessert and between 1.25 euros and 2.50 euros for coffee, it is tempting to spend every weekend trying out new bars and restaurants in Barcelona. Same for the nightlife 8 euros for going to a club near to the beach. And the drinks inside are not that expensive. Going to the cinema is about 8 euros also. But in Barcelona, you can go and see so much for cheap like the museum, or beautiful building design by Gaudi for example. You can also go shopping in the city, like in Zara were the clothes are cheaper than in another big city.

Transport

The most interesting thing is to take a TMB subscription which allows access to the Barcelona metro, the bus, the tram and the train of zone 1. The ticket of 10 trips costs 10,20€, the unlimited monthly card 54€ and the quarterly card 145,30€. For the lucky under 25, this card is worth 105€. Finally, it is also cheaper to travel by shared bike than in large French cities. The Bicing subscription (equivalent to the Vélib in Barcelona) is 50€ per year. It is totally worth it. 

Not decided yet? You can go for a nice weekend with your friend and it is sure you will fall in love with the city.

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