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Barcelona vs Manchester

Barcelona and Manchester cost within a few percent of each other for this household — decide on everything except money.

Barcelona
Barcelona
$2,519/month · Spain
dronepicr · CC BY 2.0
Manchester Town Hall seen from Lloyd Street, Manchester, England, UK.
Manchester
$2,491/month · United Kingdom
Mark Andrew. · CC BY 2.0
Barcelona monthly
$2,519
Index 39 (NYC = 100)
Manchester monthly
$2,491
Index 39 (NYC = 100)
Difference
-1%
Manchester relative to Barcelona
Rent gap
$200
Barcelona costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

BarcelonaManchester
  • Housing
    Housing: Barcelona $1,550, Manchester $1,350. Cheaper in Manchester.
  • Food
    Food: Barcelona $531, Manchester $529. Cheaper in Manchester.
  • Transport
    Transport: Barcelona $67, Manchester $161. Cheaper in Barcelona.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Barcelona $139, Manchester $224. Cheaper in Barcelona.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Barcelona $35, Manchester $6.51. Cheaper in Manchester.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Barcelona $125, Manchester $137. Cheaper in Barcelona.
  • Other
    Other: Barcelona $72, Manchester $85. Cheaper in Barcelona.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricBarcelonaManchester
Cost
Total monthly cost2,519 USD2,491 USD✓
Cost index (New York = 100)3939✓
Housing1,550 USD1,350 USD✓
Utilities139 USD✓224 USD
Food531 USD529 USD✓
Transport67 USD✓161 USD
Healthcare35 USD7 USD✓
Lifestyle125 USD✓137 USD
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr5,316 USD5,953 USD✓
Effective tax + social rate36.2%28.6%✓
Left over each month2,798 USD3,461 USD✓
Average local net salary1,900 USD2,600 USD✓
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre1,550 USD1,350 USD✓
3-bed rent, city centre2,800 USD2,400 USD✓
Buy price per m², centre7,200 USD4,200 USD✓
Quality of life
Safety62/100✓58/100
Healthcare84/100✓80/100
Air quality62/10064/100✓
Public transport90/100✓74/100
Walkability92/100✓80/100
English proficiency66/100100/100✓
Nightlife96/100✓86/100
Family friendliness78/100✓72/100
Median broadband215 Mbps✓85 Mbps
Climate
Average temperature17°C10°C✓
Summer high29°C21°C✓
Winter low7°C✓2°C
Sunshine hours per year2,520 h✓1,400 h
Annual rainfall600 mm✓830 mm
Practicalities
Remote-work visaYes✓No
Beach access10 min✓75 min
CurrencyEURGBP
Time zoneEurope/MadridEurope/London

Barcelona and Manchester cost within a few percent of each other for this household — decide on everything except money.

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Cost of living in BarcelonaCost of living in ManchesterConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
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FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Barcelona or Manchester cheaper?

Barcelona and Manchester cost within a few percent of each other for this household — decide on everything except money.

What salary do you need in Manchester compared with Barcelona?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $5,316 a month in Barcelona and $5,953 in Manchester, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Barcelona or Manchester?

Barcelona scores 62/100 on safety and 84/100 on healthcare; Manchester scores 58 and 80. Barcelona averages 17°C against 10°C in Manchester.