All countries / City vs city / Rome vs Barcelona
Rome vs Barcelona
The short answer
They cost about the same day to day — Rome $95–170, Barcelona $95–170 mid-range per person. Both are at their best in May, Sep–Oct, so one trip can take in both.
Side by side
Mid-range, per person, in US dollars. Both guides were costed the same way — see how we work these out.
| 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budgetmid-range, per person | $95–170 | $95–170 |
| Cheap meallocal staple | €6–12 ($6.50–13)cheaper | €13–20 ($15–23) |
| Mid-range hotelper night | €100–200 ($108–216)cheaper | €120–200 ($137–228) |
| Transit ridesingle trip | €1.50 ($1.60)cheaper | €2.55 ($2.90) |
| Avg. monthly salarylocal, for context | ≈ $2,100 | ≈ $2,400 |
When to go
Filled months are the ones each guide recommends; hollow ones it warns off.
Rome
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Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Barcelona
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May–Oct
What you'd actually do
A few of each guide's picks, one per category before seconds — the full lists are on the guides themselves.
🇮🇹 Rome
The Eternal City — ancient ruins, Renaissance piazzas, and some of the world's best food, all stacked on top of 2,700 years of history.
- Freni e Frizioni$$Nightlife
- Roscioli$$$Restaurants
- Teatro dell'Opera di Roma$$$Theater & shows
- Jerry Thomas Speakeasy$$$Nightlife
- Da Enzo al 29$$Restaurants
🇪🇸 Barcelona
Gaudí's playground on the Mediterranean — surreal architecture, beach afternoons, and late nights in the Gothic Quarter.
- Paradiso$$$Nightlife
- Cal Pep$$$Restaurants
- Gran Teatre del Liceu$$$Theater & shows
- Bar Marsella$Nightlife
- Quimet & Quimet$$Restaurants
Practicalities
| Rome | Barcelona | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Italian. English is common around major sights and hotels, less so in neighborhood trattorias. | Spanish and Catalan are co-official — signage and some announcements are in Catalan, but Spanish is understood and spoken everywhere, and English is common in tourist areas. |
| Currency | Euro (€). US$1 ≈ €0.93 | Euro (€). US$1 ≈ €0.88 (€1 ≈ $1.14) |
| Power | Type C/F/L plugs, 230V | Type C/F plugs, 230V |
| Tap water | Safe to drink — including from the city's public nasoni drinking fountains | Safe to drink, though the taste varies — many locals and cafes prefer filtered or bottled |
The same in both:
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer
- Emergency
- 112 general emergency (EU-wide)