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Manchester vs Barcelona

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

Manchester Town Hall seen from Lloyd Street, Manchester, England, UK.
Manchester
$2,491/month · United Kingdom
Mark Andrew. · CC BY 2.0
Barcelona
Barcelona
$2,515/month · Spain
dronepicr · CC BY 2.0
Manchester monthly
$2,491
Index 39 (NYC = 100)
Barcelona monthly
$2,515
Index 39 (NYC = 100)
Difference
+1%
Barcelona relative to Manchester
Rent gap
$200
Barcelona costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

ManchesterBarcelona
  • Housing
    Housing: Manchester $1,350, Barcelona $1,550. Cheaper in Manchester.
  • Food
    Food: Manchester $529, Barcelona $531. Cheaper in Manchester.
  • Transport
    Transport: Manchester $161, Barcelona $67. Cheaper in Barcelona.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Manchester $224, Barcelona $136. Cheaper in Barcelona.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Manchester $6.51, Barcelona $35. Cheaper in Manchester.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Manchester $137, Barcelona $125. Cheaper in Barcelona.
  • Other
    Other: Manchester $85, Barcelona $72. 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

MetricManchesterBarcelona
Cost
Total monthly cost2,491 USD✓2,515 USD
Cost index (New York = 100)39✓39
Housing1,350 USD✓1,550 USD
Utilities224 USD136 USD✓
Food529 USD✓531 USD
Transport161 USD67 USD✓
Healthcare7 USD✓35 USD
Lifestyle137 USD125 USD✓
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr5,953 USD✓5,316 USD
Effective tax + social rate28.6%✓36.2%
Left over each month3,461 USD✓2,801 USD
Average local net salary2,600 USD✓1,900 USD
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre1,350 USD✓1,550 USD
3-bed rent, city centre2,400 USD✓2,800 USD
Buy price per m², centre4,200 USD✓7,200 USD
Quality of life
Safety58/10062/100✓
Healthcare80/10084/100✓
Air quality64/100✓62/100
Public transport74/10090/100✓
Walkability80/10092/100✓
English proficiency100/100✓66/100
Nightlife86/10096/100✓
Family friendliness72/10078/100✓
Median broadband85 Mbps215 Mbps✓
Climate
Average temperature10°C✓17°C
Summer high21°C✓29°C
Winter low2°C7°C✓
Sunshine hours per year1,400 h2,520 h✓
Annual rainfall830 mm600 mm✓
Practicalities
Remote-work visaNoYes✓
Beach access75 min10 min✓
CurrencyGBPEUR
Time zoneEurope/LondonEurope/Madrid

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

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Go deeper

Cost of living in ManchesterCost of living in BarcelonaConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
Manchester vs RomeManchester vs ParisManchester vs Berlin
FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Manchester or Barcelona cheaper?

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

What salary do you need in Barcelona compared with Manchester?

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

Which has better quality of life, Manchester or Barcelona?

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