😐A single person spends $3,446 per month in Arbon vs $2,495 in Barcelona, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,324 per month in Arbon vs $3,550 in Barcelona, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,202 per month in Arbon vs $4,605 in Barcelona, rent included.
😐Arbon costs about 38% more than Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Arbon and Barcelona sit above the global median – Arbon by 151%, Barcelona by 82%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.29CHF 25.44
$18.39€15.87
70.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$150CHF 122
$69.2€59.7
117.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$19.92CHF 16.19
$14.13€12.19
40.98%
Cappuccino
$6.29CHF 5.11
$3.13€2.70
100.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.09CHF 4.95
$3.02€2.60
101.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.47CHF 4.44
$1.96€1.69
179.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.32CHF 7.57
$4.00€3.45
133.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.35CHF 5.16
$4.76€4.11
33.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.27CHF 1.85
$1.25€1.08
81.60%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17CHF 2.58
$2.16€1.87
46.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.73CHF 3.04
$1.69€1.45
120.71%
Eggs
$8.07CHF 6.56
$4.93€4.26
63.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$25.89CHF 21.05
$17.88€15.43
44.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$28.96CHF 23.54
$9.61€8.29
201.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$42.89CHF 34.87
$19.34€16.69
121.77%
Apples(1kg)
$3.64CHF 2.96
$3.24€2.79
12.35%
Banana(1kg)
$2.02CHF 1.64
$2.18€1.88
-7.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39CHF 1.94
$2.67€2.30
-10.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.35CHF 4.35
$2.77€2.39
93.14%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00CHF 1.62
$2.21€1.91
-9.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27CHF 1.85
$2.19€1.89
3.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.33CHF 1.89
$1.52€1.31
53.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22CHF 1.00
$0.92€0.80
32.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.34CHF 9.22
$7.12€6.14
59.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.57CHF 14.28
$8.14€7.02
115.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27CHF 1.85
$1.50€1.29
51.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32CHF 1.88
$2.78€2.40
-16.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.22CHF 3.43
$3.15€2.72
33.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$91.0CHF 74.0
$26.99€23.29
237.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.63CHF 5.39
$3.25€2.80
104.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.70CHF 3.82
$1.50€1.30
213.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$81.2CHF 66.0
$34.89€30.11
132.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.33CHF 1.89
$1.75€1.51
33.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4KCHF 29.6K
$36.7K€31.6K
-0.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.9KCHF 33.3K
$30.9K€26.7K
32.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$228CHF 186
$188€162
21.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.84CHF 31.58
$15.44€13.32
151.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.5CHF 45.93
$37.80€32.61
49.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$79.5CHF 64.6
$57.2€49.34
39.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.5CHF 43.48
$16.80€14.49
218.33%
Cinema Ticket
$24.06CHF 19.56
$11.58€9.99
107.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,309CHF 1,877
$1,003€865
130.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$32.3KCHF 26.2K
$17.0K€14.7K
89.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$146CHF 118
$89.2€77.0
63.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.2CHF 53.8
$40.87€35.27
61.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$149CHF 121
$110€94.9
35.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$188CHF 153
$123€106
53.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,556CHF 1,265
$1,673€1,444
-7.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,342CHF 1,091
$1,331€1,149
0.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,878CHF 2,340
$2,596€2,240
10.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,721CHF 2,212
$1,950€1,683
39.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$18.4KCHF 15.0K
$7,573€6,535
143.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$11.5KCHF 9,379
$5,370€4,634
114.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arbon
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$11.6KCHF 9,446
$2,402€2,073
383.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.9
3.16
-39.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arbon: August 29, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,556 in Arbon versus $1,673 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 384% 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 $150 in Arbon versus $69.0 in Barcelona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $605 vs $332 – 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 in Barcelona compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,446 in Arbon, $2,495 in Barcelona – roughly 38% 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 $5,170 per month in Arbon and $3,743 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 $3,446 in Arbon and $2,495 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 in Barcelona?
Public transport costs about 237% 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 $3,446 in Arbon and $2,495 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 $2,495 in Barcelona to $3,446 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.