🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,089 in Abilene, TX versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,048 in Abilene, TX versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,006 in Abilene, TX versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Abilene, TX costs roughly 12% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Abilene, TX56% above, Barcelona77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abilene, TX
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.27$13.27
$17.58€15.12
-24.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.9$55.9
$68.4€58.9
-18.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.03$9.03
$14.06€12.09
-35.78%
Cappuccino
$4.95$4.95
$2.78€2.39
78.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83$1.83
$2.80€2.41
-34.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91$1.91
$2.06€1.78
-7.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.06$4.06
$4.46€3.84
-8.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.95$7.95
$4.61€3.96
72.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abilene, TX
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87$0.87
$1.24€1.07
-29.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.97$2.97
$2.03€1.74
46.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.96$4.96
$1.92€1.65
158.33%
Eggs
$8.00$8.00
$3.31€2.85
141.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.42$11.42
$18.43€15.85
-38.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.92$9.92
$9.49€8.16
4.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.48$13.48
$19.16€16.48
-29.65%
Apples(1kg)
$4.63$4.63
$2.64€2.27
75.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46$1.46
$2.45€2.11
-40.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.09$4.09
$2.12€1.82
92.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.54$3.54
$2.85€2.45
24.21%
Potato(1kg)
$3.63$3.63
$2.04€1.75
77.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.96$2.96
$1.85€1.59
60.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.27$2.27
$1.47€1.26
54.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.23$3.23
$0.84€0.73
284.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.45$8.45
$7.14€6.14
18.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.72$11.72
$7.88€6.78
48.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71$1.71
$1.38€1.19
23.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83$2.83
$2.31€1.99
22.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Abilene, TX
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.54$1.54
$2.98€2.56
-48.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.53$44.53
$29.26€25.17
52.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.97$2.97
$4.60€3.95
-35.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72$1.72
$2.07€1.78
-16.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$56.8$56.8
$29.18€25.10
94.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75$0.75
$1.84€1.58
-59.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K$30.3K
$39.0K€33.6K
-22.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K$22.9K
$32.7K€28.1K
-30.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abilene, TX
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187$187
$188€162
-0.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.41$46.41
$22.93€19.73
102.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.1$63.1
$36.71€31.58
71.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abilene, TX
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.25$15.25
$57.4€49.35
-73.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.70€17.80
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.21$12.21
$11.19€9.63
9.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abilene, TX
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$852$852
$721€620
18.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.4K$23.4K
$15.0K€12.9K
55.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abilene, TX
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.6$53.6
$86.2€74.2
-37.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.90$34.90
$37.07€31.89
-5.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7$88.7
$102€87.8
-13.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106$106
$116€99.7
-8.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abilene, TX
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,091$1,091
$1,534€1,319
-28.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$918$918
$1,220€1,050
-24.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,687$1,687
$2,696€2,319
-37.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,612$1,612
$2,013€1,732
-19.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,704$1,704
$7,220€6,211
-76.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,693$1,693
$5,189€4,463
-67.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abilene, TX
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,299$3,299
$2,359€2,029
39.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.49
3.39
91.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Abilene, TX: May 31, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,091 in Abilene, TX and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Abilene, TX pays 40% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $56.0 in Abilene, TX vs $68.0 in Barcelona. Groceries flip the comparison at $383 vs $318, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Abilene, TX vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Abilene, TX and Barcelona?
Abilene, TX and Barcelona differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,089 vs $2,367 including rent). Abilene, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Abilene, TX or Barcelona?
Abilene, TX pays 40% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Abilene, TX and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,091 in Abilene, TX versus $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Abilene, TX – a meal for two runs $56.0 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Abilene, TX or Barcelona?
All in, you'll spend $2,089 per month in Abilene, TX versus $2,367 in Barcelona – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,089 in Abilene, TX versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Abilene, TX but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Abilene, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Abilene, TX and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Abilene, TX or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Abilene, TX and Barcelona are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Abilene, TX or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Abilene, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Abilene, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared