Cost of Living Comparison Between Auburn, WA and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Auburn, WA and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,613 per month in Auburn, WA vs $2,367 in Barcelona, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,649 per month in Auburn, WA vs $3,465 in Barcelona, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,686 per month in Auburn, WA vs $4,563 in Barcelona, rent included.

Auburn, WA costs about 10% more than Barcelona, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Auburn, WA and Barcelona sit above the global median – Auburn, WA by 95%, Barcelona by 77%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Auburn, WA
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.74 $17.74
$17.58 €15.14
0.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5 $58.5
$68.4 €58.9
-14.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.90 $9.90
$14.06 €12.10
-29.59%
Cappuccino
$4.53 $4.53
$2.78 €2.39
62.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.80 €2.41
-8.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.06 €1.78
-1.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.64 $4.64
$4.46 €3.84
4.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95 $3.95
$4.61 €3.97
-14.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Auburn, WA
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.24 €1.07
-23.39%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.03 €1.75
24.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.92 €1.65
93.75%
Eggs
$3.02 $3.02
$3.31 €2.85
-8.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.68 $8.68
$18.43 €15.87
-52.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.19 $13.19
$9.49 €8.17
38.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.52 $16.52
$19.16 €16.49
-13.78%
Apples (1kg)
$4.17 $4.17
$2.64 €2.27
57.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 $1.44
$2.45 €2.11
-41.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.12 €1.83
73.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$2.85 €2.45
35.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.04 €1.75
4.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.85 €1.59
15.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.90 $1.90
$1.47 €1.27
29.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 $1.67
$0.84 €0.73
98.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.26 $9.26
$7.14 €6.15
29.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.88 €6.79
92.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 $1.61
$1.38 €1.19
16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 $2.99
$2.31 €1.99
29.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Auburn, WA
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.98 €2.57
-34.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.26 €25.19
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 $3.48
$4.60 €3.96
-24.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.07 €1.78
-12.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.33 $39.33
$29.18 €25.12
34.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.84 €1.58
-43.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K $27.9K
$39.0K €33.6K
-28.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$32.7K €28.1K
-22.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Auburn, WA
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$276 $276
$188 €162
46.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.48 $39.48
$22.93 €19.74
72.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.3 $76.3
$36.71 €31.61
107.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Auburn, WA
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.25 $42.25
$57.4 €49.39
-26.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.70 €17.82
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.82 $12.82
$11.19 €9.64
14.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Auburn, WA
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,322 $1,322
$721 €621
83.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$15.0K €13.0K
55.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Auburn, WA
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.96 $45.96
$86.2 €74.2
-46.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.9 $51.9
$37.07 €31.92
39.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.3 $81.3
$102 €87.8
-20.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.6 $80.6
$116 €99.8
-30.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Auburn, WA
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$1,534 €1,320
5.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,391 $1,391
$1,220 €1,051
13.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,161 $3,161
$2,696 €2,321
17.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,227 $2,227
$2,013 €1,733
10.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,220 €6,216
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$5,189 €4,467
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Auburn, WA
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,794 $6,794
$2,359 €2,031
187.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
3.39
93.22%

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

Last update for Auburn, WA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,614 in Auburn, WA 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 188% higher in Auburn, WA, 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 $59.0 in Auburn, WA versus $68.0 in Barcelona. Groceries tell a different story – $350 in Auburn, WA vs $318 in Barcelona – so Barcelona wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Auburn, WA vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Auburn, WA or Barcelona?
Auburn, WA costs about 10% more than Barcelona, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Auburn, WA vs Barcelona?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,919 per month in Auburn, WA and $3,550 in Barcelona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Auburn, WA or 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.
How much does it cost to live in Auburn, WA compared to Barcelona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,613 in Auburn, WA and $2,367 in Barcelona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Auburn, WA and Barcelona?
Kindergarten costs $1,322 per month in Auburn, WA and $721 in Barcelona. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Auburn, WA or Barcelona?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,613 in Auburn, WA and $2,367 in Barcelona. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Auburn, WA or Barcelona?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Barcelona costs $2,367 versus $2,613 in Auburn, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Auburn, WA compared to 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.
Should I move to Auburn, WA or Barcelona?
If budget matters most, go with Barcelona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Auburn, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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