Should you visit Barcelona or New York City?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Barcelona and New York City can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain with a population of over 1.5 million people. It's also the capital of Catalonia and is located on the northeastern part of the Mediterranean coast. Barcelona is one of the country's most popular travel destinations because of its rich history, interesting architecture, and vibrant culture. Barcelona hosted the 1992 Summer Olympic games and that had a strong influence over tourism in the area. Many different neighborhoods were renovated and rebuilt. Modern design became the norm in many parts of the city, although there is still an old city feel and many efforts at preservation.
New York City
The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.
Which city is cheaper, New York City or Barcelona?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Barcelona is $130, while the average daily cost in New York City is $238. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Barcelona and New York City in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Barcelona is $158. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
For a normal double-occupancy room in New York City, $274 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in New York City, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $137, such as in a hostel.
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Barcelona is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $16 per person, per day, on local transportation in Barcelona.
To get around in New York City, the average visitor spends $39 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Barcelona
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Barcelona are as follows:
-
10 Trip Metro Ticket
$8.24
-
Airport Bus
$5.28
-
Metro
$2.22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Barcelona
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Barcelona:
-
Ultra - Barcelona Private Transfer from City Centre to Barcelona Cruise Port:
$9.41
-
Ultra - Barcelona Private Transfer from Barcelona Cruise Port to City Centre:
$9.41
-
Ultra - Barcelona Private Airport Transfer city centre to El Prat Airport BCN:
$9.41
-
Transfers From Cruise Port to Barcelona Main Train Station( Sants Train Station):
$30
-
Transfer to Montserrat Monastery from Barcelona:
$33
-
Transfer in private vehicle from Barcelona El Prat Airport to Barcelona City:
$39
-
Transfer in private vehicle from Barcelona City to Barcelona El Prat Airport:
$39
-
Transfer in private minivan from Barcelona City to Barcelona el Prat Airport:
$55
-
Transfer from Barcelona to Valencia or viceversa:
$498
-
Transfer from Barcelona to Port Aventura Park:
$435
-
Transfer from Barcelona Airport to Barcelona CITY - ROUND TRIP:
$124
-
Transfer from Barcelona (any hotel or address) to Barcelona Airport (BCN):
$61
Typical Local Transportation prices in New York City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
-
Subway
$4.50
-
Taxi Ride
$8.00
-
Subway
$2.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Departure Transfer Manhattan to NYC Airports JFK EWR LGA:
$22
-
Private Departure Transfer Brooklyn to NYC Airports (JFK) (LGA) (EWR):
$29
-
New York City Shared Shuttle Departure Transfer: Hotel to NYC Airports:
$30
-
Private All Inclusive New York Transfer: Airport or Manhattan to Cruise Port:
$71
-
Private New York airport transfer: New York airport to Manhattan and Brooklyn:
$83
-
Private Transfer from New York City to LaGuardia Airport:
$85
-
Private transfer: New York to New York Airport (LGA):
$86
-
Private All Inclusive New York City Airport Arrival Transfer:
$90
-
Private All Inclusive New York City Airport Departure Transfer:
$90
-
Manhattan Private Luxury Transfer to NYC Airports:
$98
-
New York Airport Luxury Departure Transfer via Stretch Limousine, SUV, Sedan:
$100
-
Private Transfer from Manhattan to John F Kennedy Airport JFK by Luxury Car:
$111
Is it cheaper to fly into Barcelona or New York City?
Prices for flights to both New York City and Barcelona change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
The price of a meal in Barcelona can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $28 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $11 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
New York City food costs typically run travelers around $37 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Barcelona $28
New York City $37
Typical Food prices in Barcelona
Some typical examples of dining costs in Barcelona are as follows:
-
Hot Cocoa & Churro
$4.38
-
Sandwich
$1.80
-
Baguette & Horchata
$4.01
-
Tapas on the beach
$8.75
-
Gelatto
$2.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Barcelona
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Barcelona.
-
Live from Potato Gnocchi Online Cooking Class:
$23
-
Live from Barcelona to China: Potato Gnocchi Online Cooking Class:
$23
-
Barcelona organic dinner in a beautiful rooftop garden:
$35
-
Paella Cooking Experience + Boqueria Market Tour:
$48
-
Interactive Spanish Cooking Experience in Barcelona:
$49
-
Hands-on Brunch Cooking Class with Bottomless Mimosas!:
$50
-
Born district food tour and tasting in Barcelona:
$51
-
Street Food Tour & Gothic Quater Sightseeing with Local Expert:
$52
-
Barcelona Street Food Tour: Local Market & Gothic Quarter with Expert Guide:
$52
-
Tasty Barcelona Street Food Tour With Local Market Visit:
$59
-
Skip the Line: Flamenco Show and Dinner Ticket:
$62
-
2-Hour Bites & Flavors Private Food Tour:
$66
Typical Food prices in New York City
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
New York Pizza, Beer, and History Tour:
$69
-
Greenwich Village History, Culture, and Food Tour with Local Expert:
$129
-
Private New York City Food Tour of East Village and Greenwich Village:
$147
-
JAPANESE guided tour! Bateaux Dinner Cruise tour with hotel transportation. The best way to enjoy the Manhattan night view from the river & sea. Full course French dinner, live band music included.:
$333
-
Limo trip Hotel to Dinner round trip in NEW MKT Limousine:
$481
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Barcelona typically cost an average of $28 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
In New York City, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $77 per person, per day.
Typical Entertainment prices in Barcelona
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Barcelona are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Barcelona
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Barcelona are as follows:
-
#1dayBarcelona. 6-Hour Action Packed Private City Discovery Tour:
$549
-
'Game Of Thrones' Small Group Tour in Girona from Barcelona:
$125
-
1 hour private sailing tour:
$158
-
1,5 hour Vermut & Sailing Experience Barcelona with drinks and snacks!:
$41
-
1-hour Private Speedboat Cruise from Barcelona:
$372
-
1.5-Hour Sights of Barcelona E-Bike Tour Led by a Local Guide:
$34
-
2 Hours Private Sailing Tour for Family and Friends:
$316
-
2 Hours Running Tour in Barcelona with Local Guide:
$35
-
2 hour Private Sunset Sailing Cruise Barcelona:
$372
-
2 hour Sailing Cruise Barcelona:
$47
-
2 hour Sunset Sailing Cruise Barcelona:
$47
-
2 hours Exclusive Sunrise Sailing Experience from Port Vell:
$335
Typical Entertainment prices in New York City
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Comedy Show Tickets
$56
-
City Map
$8.00
-
Broadway Musical
$111
-
Broadway Show Program
$10
-
Magazine
$6.99
Tours and Activities in New York City
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
New York: Brooklyn Heights & DUMBO Self-Guided Walking Tour:
$6.00
-
9/11 Tribute Museum Admission Ticket:
$12
-
Central Park Zoo General Admission Ticket:
$14
-
New York Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
-
Brooklyn Museum General Admission Ticket:
$14
-
New York: The Rubin Museum of Art Admission Ticket:
$19
-
New York Aquarium Admission Tickets:
$20
-
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ticket:
$21
-
American Dream: TiLT Interactive Museum Admission Ticket:
$21
-
American Museum of Natural History Ticket:
$23
-
New York Botanical Garden Admission Ticket:
$23
-
American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket:
$23
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Alcohol
The average person spends about $14 on alcoholic beverages in Barcelona per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typically, people visiting New York City spend on average $23 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Barcelona
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Barcelona:
-
Estrella Damm Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting:
$9.08
-
Generation Pub Crawl in Barcelona:
$19
-
Barcelona Pub Crawl:
$20
-
Wine Tasting Experience in Barcelona:
$22
-
Opera Samfaina: Food and Wine Tasting Interactive Experience in Barcelona:
$26
-
Wine tasting & tapas:
$39
-
Barcelona Guided Local Wine Tasting Tour:
$44
-
Wine Tasting near Sagrada Familia:
$47
-
Home Food and Wine Tasting with Wine Lover:
$51
-
Fun Wine Tasting in Barcelona with a Sommelier!:
$53
-
Spanish wine tasting in a historic building with a Sommelier:
$54
-
Food Tasting Tapas and Wine Tour:
$62
Sample the Local Flavors in New York City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
-
Pub Crawl Tour of Historic Stone Street:
$40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Barcelona and New York City, we can see that New York City is more expensive. And not only is Barcelona much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Barcelona is in Europe and New York City is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Barcelona would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Barcelona and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City than you might in Barcelona.
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