Cost of Living Comparison Between Arbon and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Arbon and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,362 per month in Arbon vs $2,367 in Barcelona, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,166 per month in Arbon vs $3,465 in Barcelona, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,970 per month in Arbon vs $4,563 in Barcelona, rent included.

Arbon costs about 42% more than Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arbon and Barcelona sit above the global median – Arbon by 151%, Barcelona by 77%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.71 CHF 24.21
$17.58 €15.12
74.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$140 CHF 110
$68.4 €58.9
104.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$17.11 CHF 13.49
$14.06 €12.09
21.69%
Cappuccino
$6.33 CHF 4.99
$2.78 €2.39
127.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27 CHF 4.15
$2.80 €2.41
88.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33 CHF 3.41
$2.06 €1.78
110.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.71 CHF 6.08
$4.46 €3.84
72.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51 CHF 5.92
$4.61 €3.96
62.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 CHF 1.71
$1.24 €1.07
75.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.66 CHF 2.10
$2.03 €1.74
31.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.64 CHF 2.87
$1.92 €1.65
89.58%
Eggs
$7.87 CHF 6.20
$3.31 €2.85
137.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$27.41 CHF 21.61
$18.43 €15.85
48.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$31.88 CHF 25.14
$9.49 €8.16
235.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$40.41 CHF 31.86
$19.16 €16.48
110.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CHF 2.47
$2.64 €2.27
18.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 CHF 1.45
$2.45 €2.11
-24.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 CHF 2.01
$2.12 €1.82
20.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.51 CHF 5.14
$2.85 €2.45
128.42%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 CHF 1.97
$2.04 €1.75
22.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 CHF 1.80
$1.85 €1.59
23.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.55 CHF 2.01
$1.47 €1.26
73.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 CHF 0.90
$0.84 €0.73
36.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.80 CHF 8.51
$7.14 €6.14
51.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.87 CHF 9.36
$7.88 €6.78
50.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 CHF 1.77
$1.38 €1.19
63.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 CHF 1.81
$2.31 €1.99
-0.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.90 CHF 3.07
$2.98 €2.56
30.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$100 CHF 79.2
$29.26 €25.17
243.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.74 CHF 5.32
$4.60 €3.95
46.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.26 CHF 3.36
$2.07 €1.78
105.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$80.5 CHF 63.5
$29.18 €25.10
175.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 CHF 1.66
$1.84 €1.58
14.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5K CHF 31.9K
$39.0K €33.6K
3.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.1K CHF 34.0K
$32.7K €28.1K
31.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$248 CHF 196
$188 €162
32.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.2 CHF 46.67
$22.93 €19.73
158.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7 CHF 42.31
$36.71 €31.58
46.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$87.6 CHF 69.1
$57.4 €49.35
52.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.70 €17.80
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.44 CHF 17.69
$11.19 €9.63
100.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,843 CHF 2,242
$721 €620
294.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$43.5K CHF 34.3K
$15.0K €12.9K
189.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$140 CHF 111
$86.2 €74.2
62.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.8 CHF 51.9
$37.07 €31.89
77.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$133 CHF 105
$102 €87.8
30.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162 CHF 127
$116 €99.7
39.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,683 CHF 1,327
$1,534 €1,319
9.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 CHF 1,176
$1,220 €1,050
22.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,865 CHF 2,259
$2,696 €2,319
6.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,423 CHF 1,910
$2,013 €1,732
20.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.2K CHF 11.2K
$7,220 €6,211
96.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.6K CHF 9,140
$5,189 €4,463
123.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$11.4K CHF 8,986
$2,359 €2,029
383.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.5
3.39
-26.25%

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

Last update for Arbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,683 in Arbon versus $1,534 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 383% higher in Arbon, 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 $140 in Arbon versus $68.0 in Barcelona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $602 vs $318 – 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
Arbon vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Arbon and Barcelona compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,362 in Arbon, $2,367 in Barcelona – roughly 42% apart. Arbon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Arbon compared to Barcelona?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,043 per month in Arbon and $3,550 in Barcelona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Arbon and Barcelona?
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 is more expensive overall: Arbon or Barcelona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,362 in Arbon and $2,367 in Barcelona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Arbon and Barcelona?
Public transport costs about 243% less in Barcelona. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,362 in Arbon and $2,367 in Barcelona. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Arbon and Barcelona?
It depends on your priorities. Barcelona has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,367 in Barcelona to $3,362 in Arbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Arbon or Barcelona safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Arbon and Barcelona?
If budget matters most, go with Barcelona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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