🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,265 in Akron, OH versus $2,476 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,360 in Akron, OH versus $3,545 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,456 in Akron, OH versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Akron, OH costs roughly 9% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Akron, OH66% above, Barcelona81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Akron, OH
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.01$17.01
$18.74€16.33
-9.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.5$76.5
$69.5€60.6
10.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.05$10.05
$13.77€12.00
-27.02%
Cappuccino
$3.71$3.71
$3.10€2.70
19.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14$2.14
$2.83€2.47
-24.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64$1.64
$1.88€1.64
-12.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.87$4.87
$3.98€3.47
22.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.95$4.95
$4.53€3.95
9.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Akron, OH
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90$0.90
$1.27€1.11
-29.13%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49$2.49
$2.16€1.88
15.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$7.05$7.05
$1.76€1.53
300.57%
Eggs
$4.82$4.82
$5.13€4.47
-6.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.57$15.57
$17.88€15.59
-12.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.91$11.91
$9.65€8.41
23.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.19$19.19
$20.15€17.56
-4.76%
Apples(1kg)
$7.14$7.14
$3.25€2.84
119.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55$1.55
$2.23€1.94
-30.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.50$7.50
$2.60€2.27
188.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.66$6.66
$2.76€2.40
141.30%
Potato(1kg)
$3.94$3.94
$2.21€1.93
78.28%
Onion(1kg)
$3.77$3.77
$2.12€1.85
77.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.51$2.51
$1.55€1.35
61.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94$1.94
$0.95€0.83
104.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.31$9.31
$7.34€6.40
26.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.60$14.60
$8.05€7.01
81.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75$1.75
$1.54€1.35
13.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.16$5.16
$2.79€2.43
84.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Akron, OH
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.26$1.26
$3.11€2.71
-59.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$50.1$50.1
$25.86€22.54
93.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.97$4.97
$3.27€2.85
51.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.79$1.79
$1.48€1.29
20.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$34.27€29.88
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02$1.02
$1.73€1.51
-41.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K$36.3K
$36.4K€31.7K
-0.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K$26.5K
$30.5K€26.6K
-13.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Akron, OH
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$240$240
$187€163
28.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.62$41.62
$15.14€13.20
174.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.3$79.3
$37.69€32.85
110.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Akron, OH
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.30$43.30
$55.9€48.76
-22.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25$17.25
$17.08€14.89
1.00%
Cinema Ticket
$12.69$12.69
$11.41€9.95
11.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Akron, OH
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,325$1,325
$997€869
32.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.6K$12.6K
$16.5K€14.4K
-23.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Akron, OH
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1$54.1
$92.6€80.8
-41.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.7$63.7
$41.22€35.93
54.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105$105
$111€96.9
-5.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124$124
$125€109
-0.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Akron, OH
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$931$931
$1,707€1,488
-45.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$863$863
$1,286€1,121
-32.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,358$1,358
$2,565€2,236
-47.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,433$1,433
$1,942€1,693
-26.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,541$1,541
$7,647€6,666
-79.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,521$1,521
$5,167€4,504
-70.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Akron, OH
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,307$3,307
$2,348€2,047
40.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.05
3.16
91.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Akron, OH: September 12, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $931 in Akron, OH and $1,707 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Akron, OH pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $76.0 in Akron, OH vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $455 vs $336 per month, with Barcelona cheaper across the board.
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
Akron, OH vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Akron, OH and in Barcelona?
Akron, OH and Barcelona differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($2,265 vs $2,476 including rent). Akron, OH is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Akron, OH or Barcelona?
Average pay runs 41% higher in Akron, OH, 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 Akron, OH and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $931 in Akron, OH versus $1,707 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Akron, OH or Barcelona?
All in, you'll spend $2,265 per month in Akron, OH versus $2,476 in Barcelona – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Akron, OH and in Barcelona?
A monthly transit pass in Akron, OH runs roughly 94% less than in Barcelona. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,265 in Akron, OH versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Akron, OH but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Akron, OH the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Akron, OH 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 Akron, OH or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Akron, OH 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: Akron, OH or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Akron, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.