Cost of living in Barcelona: how much to expect?

What is cost of living when traveling to Barcelona?

This is the question asked by many tourists visiting the city.

Today, I'm going to give you an estimate of the cost of living when you travel to Barcelona.

Cost of living in Barcelona: article summary

Visit che cost of living in Barcelona: at a glance

During your visit to Barcelona, you should plan to spend around €123 per day. This price corresponds to the average daily expenditure of visitors. Travelers spend an average of €27 on meals for a day and €15 on local transport.

What's more, the average price of a hotel in Barcelona for a couple is €150. So a trip to Barcelona for two for a week costs an average of €1,724.

The cost of food in Barcelona

When traveling, food needs to be considered. While meal prices in Barcelona can vary, the average cost of food in Barcelona is €27 per day.

Breakfast prices are generally a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. If you want to have a breakfast of hot cocoa and things, you'll have to count on 4 euros. At lunchtime, you'll probably only need a sandwich to fill you up. These are quite economical and sell for around 2 euros.

In the evening, I recommend a tapas restaurant. For a dish of tapas on the beach, count an average of 8 euros per person. Of course, tapas only count as an aperitif, and you may still be hungry after your meal. You'll need to add a few extra euros to your budget.

If you're on a particularly tight budget, there are plenty of different supermarkets in the city offering ready-made meals. It's a great way to enjoy a picnic and decent food, without paying the high restaurant prices.

Cost of living Barcelona: plan your transport budget

Public transport in Barcelona is good. Barcelona Bus Turistic offers three routes linking the city's main tourist attractions. There's a northbound and a southbound line that runs from on opposite sides of the Plaça de Catalunya. Buses offer multiple stops so you can see as many attractions as you like at no extra cost.

What's more, they're relatively inexpensive. A one-way ticket costs €2.20. If you plan to take the bus often, I advise you to spend €10 to get a day ticket..

The metro is an excellent way to get around the city. Trains are fast and frequent, and it's relatively easy to find your way around the Barcelona metro. Ticket machines usually offer an English-language option, so you can buy your tickets without having to face the language barrier.

Note that there are actually two metro systems, one operated by TMB and the other by FGC. If you change systems, you'll have to leave the station and pay for another ticket. The one-way metro fare is €2.40. If you want to save money, I advise you to buy books of 10 tickets. These last are selling for €11.35, which works out at €1.35 per trip.

Enjoy the city's hotels

When it comes to accommodation in Barcelona, you have plenty of choice. In fact, there are a number of very low-cost options that will enable you to enjoy a room in downtown Barcelona. You can, for example, opt for an Ibis hotel and save on the cost of your rooms. To find out more about Ibis hotel rates in Barcelona, please visit read my article on the subject.

More traditional hotels are also available. These are a little more expensive, but offer exceptional service. In the center of Barcelona, it's even possible to find cheap hotels that will welcome you on your trip. If you'd like to find out more, you can read the article I devoted to this subject.

Cost of living Barcelona: take advantage of free attractions

Part of the fun of visiting Barcelona is simply exploring the city, wandering its streets, finding the many hidden squares and soaking up the good vibes. This is particularly enjoyable in the Barri Gotic.

There are many major attractions around the city. The Temple of Augustus is impressive, and stands inside a building that now has four columns and Corinthian fluted shafts. The Temple was built by the Romans during the imperial period in the colony of Barcino. It was a place of worship for the emperor Augustus. Entrance to the temple is free you'll be able to take great photos on the spot.

Many people enjoy seeing Gaudi's architecture throughout the city. Some good examples include Parc Guell in Gracia, the Sagrada Familia à Eixample and homes La Pedrera/Casa Mila and La Casa Batllo. To see the city's best Modernista and Art Nouveau buildings, take the Ruta del Modernisme, run by the Modernisme Centre. You can visit the latter free of charge and discover Barcelona's architecture during your vacation.

To visit Barcelona, you'll need to set aside a substantial budget. Although the city is less expensive than other European cities, the cost of living is still quite high, and you'll need to bring plenty of money with you. to make the most of your vacation.