Cost of Living Comparison Between Ames, IA and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Ames, IA and Barcelona

😐 Solo nomad: Ames, IA is 25.6% more expensive than Barcelona without rent, and 11.2% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Ames, IA is 4.2% more expensive than Barcelona without rent, and 6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ames, IA
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.07 $18.07
$17.41 €15.03
3.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.34 $44.34
$68.7 €59.3
-35.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.04 $9.04
$13.71 €11.84
-34.06%
Cappuccino
$5.27 $5.27
$2.78 €2.4
89.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.8 €2.42
-30.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.98 €1.71
-12.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 $2.99
$4.43 €3.83
-32.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.94 $6.94
$4.53 €3.91
53.20%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Ames, IA
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.24 €1.07
-18.55%
White Bread (500g)
$3.65 $3.65
$2.03 €1.75
79.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.98 €1.71
57.07%
Eggs
$3.29 $3.29
$3.46 €2.99
-4.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.44 $9.44
$18.32 €15.82
-48.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.6 $11.6
$9.82 €8.47
18.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.09 $14.09
$19.24 €16.61
-26.77%
Apples (1kg)
$5.09 $5.09
$2.61 €2.25
95.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 $1.15
$2.34 €2.02
-50.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.79 $5.79
$2.11 €1.82
174.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.1 $5.1
$2.77 €2.39
84.12%
Potato (1kg)
$3.76 $3.76
$2.04 €1.76
84.31%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.77 €1.53
111.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.5 €1.3
32.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$0.85 €0.73
131.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9 $9
$7 €6.04
28.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.23 $16.23
$7.13 €6.16
127.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.43 €1.24
19.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 $4.38
$2.29 €1.98
91.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Ames, IA
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$3.02 €2.6
-50.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.13 $47.13
$28.97 €25.01
62.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.9 $4.9
$4.59 €3.96
6.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$2.02 €1.74
-31.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.16 $49.16
$29.56 €25.53
66.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$1.81 €1.56
-55.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$38.4K €33.1K
-35.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$32.4K €28K
-21.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ames, IA
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 $189
$190 €164
-0.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.48 $48.48
$22.18 €19.15
118.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.3 $74.3
$36.37 €31.4
104.23%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Ames, IA
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.5 $68.5
$57.4 €49.55
19.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.74 $19.74
$20.95 €18.09
-5.78%
Cinema Ticket
$13.9 $13.9
$10.8 €9.33
28.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ames, IA
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,470 $1,470
$732 €632
100.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.2K $30.2K
$15.1K €13.1K
99.72%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Ames, IA
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.64 $38.64
$86.8 €74.9
-55.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.65 $42.65
$36.78 €31.76
15.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.4 $84.4
$102 €88.2
-17.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$117 €101
-1.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ames, IA
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$989 $989
$1,581 €1,365
-37.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$837 $837
$1,230 €1,062
-31.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,931 $1,931
$2,707 €2,337
-28.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,676 $1,676
$2,028 €1,751
-17.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,346 $2,346
$6,602 €5,700
-64.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,182 $2,182
$5,045 €4,356
-56.76%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Ames, IA
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,732 $3,732
$2,198 €1,898
69.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.02
3.39
77.58%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ames, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Barcelona: October 28, 2025

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