Barcelona is a very popular European destination, and it hosts over 11.7 million tourists every year. It’s clear that a ton of people want to visit the city, and there’s definitely no shortage of stuff to do or things to see. That does bring the question: Is Barcelona expensive or not? Here are the things you need to consider before going to Barcelona on vacation!

What’s the average accommodation cost in Barcelona?

It depends on what features and amenities you expect. A budget guest house or hotel will charge you around 25 to 50 EUR a night. Mid-range hotels will go up to 150 EUR a night for each room. Naturally, luxury hotels can go anywhere from 200 to 500 EUR or more in some cases.

One thing to note here is that during the peak season, Christmas time and May-August, these prices can increase quite a bit. If you want to cut some of the prices, try to book in advance and maybe choose to stay outside of the central part of the city.

You could also go the Airbnb or vacation rental route. An Airbnb in Barcelona is, on average, 90-150 EUR a night. If you want, you can go for a long-term rental; it could end up costing you around 700-1000 EUR a month.

Food costs

Barcelona is known for having a massive range of meals, and that’s great for someone who enjoys eating great food. With that in mind, food costs in Barcelona, especially at restaurants, are similar to prices in Madrid and Valencia or other larger cities in Europe. If you want to eat a meal at a restaurant, expect to pay anywhere from 20-40 EUR per person.

Fine dining will be around 100 EUR per person. However, you could go with tapas or Pintxos and daily menus, where you can eat well at around 10-15 EUR a person. If you want to shop locally, go to Carrefour, Lidl, or Mercadona, as here you can find premade foods or ingredients to cook on your own.

Transportation

When it comes to transportation, the bus/metro ticket is 2.55 EUR. The monthly pass for unlimited travel is 21.35 EUR, whereas a 10-ride ticket is 12.15 EUR. Taxis can also be an option, with the base fare being similar to a metro ticket, and the price per km is around 1.20 EUR.

Attractions

When you are wondering, “Is Barcelona expensive” or not, you have to take into account the various attractions as well. Some of them, like Casa Battlo, can have prices up to 40 EUR per person. Others, like Sagrada Familia, will cost 26 EUR a ticket or 28, in the case of Camp Nou Experience.

Despite that, there are still low-cost or free attractions. Go to the Gothic Quarter or the beach, check out Parc de la Ciutadella, or enjoy the free museum days, among many others.

Average cost of living

When compared to other large cities in Europe, the average cost of living in Barcelona is lower, at least in some cases. The average monthly costs, as we said, will usually be around 700 to 1000 EUR. Similar prices can be found in Berlin, for example. Madrid is slightly cheaper than Barcelona, at 650 to 800 EUR on average. But other cities like Paris or London can require 1000 to 1500 EUR.

Tips to help you save money in Barcelona

  • It’s a very good idea to travel during the off-season, if possible.
  • Always try to eat like a local; the daily menus, in particular, are a great money-saving option!
  • Book tickets in advance; these can be great, and they will provide you with some discounts as well.
  • It also comes in handy to take advantage of any free museum days, if you can.
  • Avoid any currency exchange fees, which can be very high, especially in central parts of the city.

Exploring Barcelona can be a lot of fun, but remember that the city is a tad expensive, especially if you want to stay there for a week or more. With that in mind, there are still ways to save money there, if you’re on a budget. We encourage you to inform yourself about the latest prices and narrow down the best spots to accommodate and enjoy your time while in Barcelona!