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
38/ 10062% cheaper than New York
+11% rent since Jul 2026
$2,300/mo
Median Income
78/100
Safety
37%
Income Tax
Mediterranean
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

Housing
72/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,400/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$950/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,200/month
Food & Groceries
52/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.39/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.5/kg
Transportation
48/100
Monthly Transit Pass$58/month
One-Way Ticket$2.45/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.2/km
Utilities
42/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$120/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$40/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$25/month
Healthcare
58/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$60/visit
Dentist Visit$80/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
50/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$450/month
International Primary School (yearly)$10,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$350/course
Entertainment
48/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$10/ticket
Theater Ticket$35/ticket
Museum Entry$12/ticket
Clothing
52/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$60/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$35/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$85/pair
Personal Care
45/100
Haircut (Men)$18/cut
Haircut (Women)$35/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4.5/bottle
Dining Out
50/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$13/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$52/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$8/meal
Childcare
55/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$700/month
Babysitter (per hour)$12/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$18/pack
Fitness & Sports
48/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$40/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$18/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$6/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

165 Mbps
Internet Speed
$250
Coworking/Month
excellent
Café WiFi
high
English Level
large
Nomad Community
78/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Gràcia, Sant Antoni, Poblenou

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Barcelona cheap to live in?

Barcelona has a cost of living index of 38/100, where New York = 100. It is 62% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,360–$1,904 per month.

How much does rent cost in Barcelona?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Barcelona costs approximately $1,400/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $950/month.

Is Barcelona good for digital nomads?

Barcelona has a large digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 165 Mbps, café wifi reliability is excellent, and coworking spaces run about $250/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Barcelona?

The median net monthly salary in Barcelona is approximately $2,300 USD. The income tax rate is around 37%.

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

Barcelona (cost index 38) is 62% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,550/month by moving from New York to Barcelona.

Compare Barcelona with…

Popular head-to-heads — see exactly where Barcelona wins or loses.

Cities that cost about the same as Barcelona

Same spending tier, different part of the world — the head-to-heads people actually weigh when relocating.

Compare Barcelona with another city

See exactly how Barcelona stacks up against your current city or next destination.

Free to start · No credit card needed