Cost of Living

Barcelona, Spain

Live cost-of-living data for Barcelona — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
41/ 10059% cheaper than New York
+33% rent since Jul 2026
$2,385/mo
Median Income
76/100
Safety
25%
Income Tax
Mediterranean
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
68/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,680/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$1,278/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,581/month
Food & Groceries
52/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.53/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.1/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.8/kg
Transportation
55/100
Monthly Transit Pass (T-Usual Zone 1)$25/month
One-Way Ticket$3.19/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.2/km
Utilities
48/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$209/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$40/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$28/month
Healthcare
75/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$60/visit
Dentist Visit$85/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
60/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$450/month
International Primary School (yearly)$11,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$380/course
Entertainment
55/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$9.35/ticket
Theater Ticket$35/ticket
Museum Entry$18/ticket
Clothing
60/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$70/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$45/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$95/pair
Personal Care
50/100
Haircut (Men)$22/cut
Haircut (Women)$42/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$5.5/bottle
Dining Out
58/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$12/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$55/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$8.5/meal
Childcare
55/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$700/month
Babysitter (per hour)$13/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$18/pack
Fitness & Sports
52/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$40/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$18/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$7/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

171 Mbps
Internet Speed
$150
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
large
Nomad Community
74/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Gràcia, Poblenou, Born

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Barcelona cheap to live in?

Barcelona has a cost of living index of 41/100, where New York = 100. It is 59% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,460–$2,044 per month.

How much does rent cost in Barcelona?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Barcelona costs approximately $1,680/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $1,278/month.

Is Barcelona good for digital nomads?

Barcelona has a large digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 171 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $150/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Barcelona?

The median net monthly salary in Barcelona is approximately $2,385 USD. The income tax rate is around 25%.

How does Barcelona compare to New York for cost of living?

Barcelona (cost index 41) is 59% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,475/month by moving from New York to Barcelona.

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