Cost of Living Comparison Between Amstelveen and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Amstelveen and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,087 per month in Amstelveen vs $2,320 in Barcelona, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,973 per month in Amstelveen vs $3,426 in Barcelona, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,859 per month in Amstelveen vs $4,532 in Barcelona, rent included.

Amstelveen costs about 33% more than Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Amstelveen and Barcelona sit above the global median – Amstelveen by 131%, Barcelona by 74%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amstelveen
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.84 €22.58
$17.66 €15.43
46.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.2 €70.1
$69.7 €60.9
15.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.80 €12.06
$14.16 €12.37
-2.54%
Cappuccino
$4.13 €3.60
$2.80 €2.45
47.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 €3.36
$2.81 €2.46
37.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 €2.91
$2.06 €1.80
61.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.85 €5.11
$4.60 €4.02
27.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.95 €5.20
$4.69 €4.10
26.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amstelveen
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 €1.06
$1.23 €1.07
-1.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.65 €1.44
$2.03 €1.78
-18.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.51 €3.07
$1.98 €1.73
77.27%
Eggs
$4.79 €4.18
$3.49 €3.05
37.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.26 €11.58
$18.33 €16.01
-27.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.19 €15.02
$9.83 €8.59
74.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.17 €15.00
$19.13 €16.71
-10.25%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 €1.72
$2.73 €2.38
-27.84%
Banana (1kg)
$2.54 €2.22
$2.38 €2.08
6.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.70
$2.08 €1.82
-6.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.12 €3.60
$2.75 €2.41
49.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.17 €1.90
$1.96 €1.71
10.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 €1.68
$1.79 €1.57
7.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 €1.09
$1.48 €1.29
-15.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 €0.65
$0.91 €0.80
-17.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.40 €12.58
$7.13 €6.23
101.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.78 €5.92
$7.88 €6.88
-13.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 €1.29
$1.38 €1.20
7.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 €2.33
$2.39 €2.09
11.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Amstelveen
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.98 €3.48
$3.01 €2.63
32.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$92.0 €80.4
$29.35 €25.65
213.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.09 €3.57
$4.36 €3.81
-6.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.96 €2.58
$2.13 €1.86
38.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.88 €26.98
$29.60 €25.86
4.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.26 €1.98
$1.82 €1.59
24.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K €27.2K
$37.9K €33.1K
-17.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K €28.9K
$32.4K €28.3K
2.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amstelveen
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$360 €315
$189 €165
90.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.76 €26.87
$22.29 €19.48
38.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.5 €54.6
$37.16 €32.47
68.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amstelveen
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.48 €28.38
$58.0 €50.7
-44.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.50 €23.15
$20.66 €18.05
28.27%
Cinema Ticket
$17.40 €15.21
$10.87 €9.50
60.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amstelveen
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,032 €1,776
$706 €617
187.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.0K €18.4K
$14.9K €13.0K
41.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amstelveen
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.2 €53.4
$89.4 €78.2
-31.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.53 €39.78
$36.60 €31.98
24.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.2 €79.7
$104 €90.9
-12.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143 €125
$119 €104
20.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amstelveen
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,295 €2,005
$1,579 €1,379
45.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,389
$1,238 €1,082
28.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,585 €2,259
$2,712 €2,370
-4.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,697 €1,482
$2,039 €1,782
-16.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,280 €7,235
$7,527 €6,576
10.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,225 €5,439
$5,239 €4,577
18.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amstelveen
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,772 €4,170
$2,364 €2,065
101.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.4
3.39
29.79%

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

Last update for Amstelveen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,295 in Amstelveen versus $1,579 in Barcelona. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 102% higher in Amstelveen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Amstelveen versus $70.0 in Barcelona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $343 vs $320 – making Barcelona the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Amstelveen vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barcelona cheaper than Amstelveen?
Yes – Amstelveen is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,631 per month in Amstelveen and $3,480 in Barcelona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Barcelona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 213% less in Barcelona. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,032 per month in Amstelveen and $706 in Barcelona. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Amstelveen or in Barcelona?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Barcelona, where all-in costs run around $2,320, than in Amstelveen at $3,087. In Barcelona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amstelveen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Amstelveen or Barcelona more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Barcelona – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Amstelveen or Barcelona?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Barcelona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amstelveen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Amstelveen vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities