8 8 schools$2,800/mo avg rentLarge expat community
Just uphill from Sarria, blending residential calm with good connectivity. Attracts upper-middle-class Catalan families and long-term expats.
5/5
Safety
5/5
Family Friendly
5/5
Quality of Life
5/5
Expat Friendly
5/5
Healthcare
Large
Expat Community
5-30°C
Temp Range
Moderate
English Level
☀️ Climate & Weather
Monthly temperatures, rainfall, and sea conditions
30°C
Hottest (Aug)
6°C
Coolest (Jan)
23
Sunny days/mo avg
588mm
Annual rainfall
Avg highAvg lowSea tempRainfall
13°
🌊 Jan
13°
🌊 Feb
14°
🌊 Mar
15°
🌊 Apr
18°
🌊 May
22°
🌊 Jun
25°
🌊 Jul
26°
🌊 Aug
24°
🌊 Sep
21°
🌊 Oct
17°
🌊 Nov
14°
🌊 Dec
💰 Cost of Living
Monthly family budget estimates (USD)
At a Glance
$2,800
Avg. rent /mo
$12
Budget meal
$50
Mid-range dinner (2 ppl)
Comfortable
2-bedroom apartment near an FGC station, train commute to city center, children at a local bilingual concertado school.
$3,600/mo
Rent$1,700
Groceries$420
Lifestyle & leisure$190
Transport$140
Utilities$140
Dining out$280
Healthcare$130
School fees (per child)$600
Established
3-bedroom apartment with terrace and city views, FGC or car commute, children at an international school in the neighborhood or Pedralbes.
$6,800/mo
Rent$3,200
Groceries$600
Lifestyle & leisure$430
Transport$280
Utilities$180
Dining out$560
Healthcare$250
School fees (per child)$1,300
Premium
Large apartment or villa with garden and panoramic views, car, children at top international school, housekeeper, regular dining.
$12,000/mo
Rent$5,500
Groceries$850
Lifestyle & leisure$870
Transport$600
Utilities$280
Dining out$1,100
Healthcare$400
School fees (per child)$2,400
Sant Gervasi offers the Sarrià hillside lifestyle at somewhat lower cost than Pedralbes, with a wider range of apartment sizes and styles. The lower slopes near the FGC stations are the most expensive; upper Sant Gervasi near Collserola offers better value for space. All figures in USD; 1 EUR is approximately 1.09 USD.
🌬️ Air Quality
Average monthly AQI (US EPA scale)
38Jan
36Feb
40Mar
42Apr
45May
50Jun
55Jul
53Aug
48Sep
43Oct
39Nov
37Dec
Good (0–50)Moderate (51–100)USG (101–150)Unhealthy (151+)
Yearly average AQI is 44. Best air quality Jan–Dec (best: Feb at 36).
👥 Demographics
22%
Expat Population
upper-middle
Income Level
~90,000
Population
Nationalities
Spanish/Catalan66%
French7%
British5%
Italian5%
German4%
American3%
Other10%
Languages Spoken
🏘️ Community & Culture
Lycée Français de Barcelone — top French school drawing European diplomatic communityEstablished Catalan bourgeois neighborhood with deep community rootsPanoramic terrasse restaurants on Carrer de SantalóQuiet, tree-lined streets with genuine village feel
Established Upper-Middle-Class Barcelona
🌳 Parks & Recreation
Parc del Turó — forested hill park with panoramic city viewsJardins de la Tamarita — formal Modernista gardenDirect access to Collserola trailheads from upper streetsPark Güell 20 min walk or 5 min bus ride
Parks and Hillside Nature
🚗 Getting Around
FGC to Plaça Catalunya in 10-15 min from multiple stationsMuntaner, La Bonanova, Les Tres Torres — frequent FGC serviceCar useful but not mandatory for most familiesSant Cugat reachable in 20 min via FGC or C-16 tunnel
FGC — The Neighborhood's Lifeline
🛒 Daily Life
Mercat de Galvany — exceptional covered market for fresh produceCarrer de Santaló restaurant row — animated weekend dining sceneChild-safe streets and parks — top family liveabilityVivanda — one of Barcelona's finest garden restaurants
Tranquil Upper Barcelona Lifestyle
📝 Living with the Climate
2-3°C cooler than the Eixample during summer heatEvening hillside breeze from Collserola for natural coolingPanoramic city-to-sea views from terrace levelMature tree canopy provides significant shade and freshness
