Cape Town vs Barcelona

Cost of living comparison for 2026. Cape Town is roughly 47% more affordable than Barcelona (index 20 vs 38, New York = 100). Data sourced live via AI — updated regularly.

Cape Town
More affordable overall
47% cheaper than Barcelona · Cost index: 20 vs 38

Life Power at $3,000/mo

The same salary ranks differently depending on where you live — from Beggar to King.

Head-to-Head Stats

20Cost Index38
1,620Median Income /mo2,300
50Safety Index78
16Income Tax %37
75Internet (Mbps)165
110Coworking /mo250

Price Breakdown

Cape TownCategoryBarcelona
$1,100/month
1-BR Apartment (Center)
21% cheaper →
$1,400/month
$1/liter
Meal for One
28% cheaper →
$1.39/liter
$11/meal
Restaurant (Mid-range)
15% cheaper →
$13/meal
$55/month
Monthly Transit Pass
5% cheaper →
$58/month
$80/month
Utilities (Monthly)
33% cheaper →
$120/month
$60/visit
Doctor Visit
$60/visit

Digital Nomad Profile

Cape Town

Internet75 Mbps
Coworking$110/mo
Café WiFigood
Englishhigh
Communitygrowing
Walkability70/100

Barcelona

Internet165 Mbps
Coworking$250/mo
Café WiFiexcellent
Englishhigh
Communitylarge
Walkability78/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cape Town cheaper than Barcelona?

Cape Town is cheaper than Barcelona. Cape Town has a cost of living index of 20/100 compared to 38/100 for Barcelona (New York = 100), making it roughly 47% more affordable overall.

How much cheaper is Cape Town than Barcelona?

Cape Town is approximately 47% cheaper than Barcelona based on cost index scores (20 vs 38, where New York = 100). A person spending $3,000/month in Barcelona could live a similar lifestyle for roughly $1,588/month in Cape Town.

What is the rent comparison between Cape Town and Barcelona?

In Cape Town, a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs approximately $1,100/month. In Barcelona, the equivalent is around $1,400/month.

Which city is better for digital nomads — Cape Town or Barcelona?

Both cities have nomad infrastructure. Cape Town offers 75 Mbps internet and coworking at ~$110/month. Barcelona offers 165 Mbps and coworking at ~$250/month. Cape Town has a cost advantage of 47%.

What is the average income in Cape Town vs Barcelona?

The median net monthly salary in Cape Town is approximately $1,620 USD, compared to $2,300 USD in Barcelona.

Compare Cape Town with…

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