Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, MN and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, MN and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,438 per month in Austin, MN vs $2,337 in Barcelona, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,574 per month in Austin, MN vs $3,468 in Barcelona, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,711 per month in Austin, MN vs $4,599 in Barcelona, rent included.

Austin, MN costs about 4% more than Barcelona, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Austin, MN and Barcelona sit above the global median – Austin, MN by 81%, Barcelona by 74%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, MN
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.72 $15.72
$17.08 €14.72
-7.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.2 $89.2
$69.2 €59.7
28.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.85 $11.85
$13.78 €11.87
-14.01%
Cappuccino
$4.94 $4.94
$2.76 €2.37
78.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$2.79 €2.40
-7.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.99 €1.72
3.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.09 $5.09
$4.36 €3.76
16.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.16 $7.16
$4.74 €4.09
51.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, MN
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.29 €1.11
-37.21%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.05 €1.77
20.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.99 €1.71
-5.53%
Eggs
$2.65 $2.65
$3.39 €2.92
-21.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.46 $12.46
$18.81 €16.21
-33.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.56 $6.56
$9.36 €8.07
-29.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.21 $18.21
$19.12 €16.48
-4.76%
Apples (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$2.70 €2.32
62.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 $1.22
$2.34 €2.02
-47.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.70 $3.70
$2.12 €1.83
74.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.85 €2.46
-38.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.97 €1.70
-19.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$1.80 €1.55
60.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.45 €1.25
4.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.86 €0.74
127.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.95 $8.95
$6.78 €5.84
32.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.09 $3.09
$7.90 €6.81
-60.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.39 €1.20
27.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01 $4.01
$2.37 €2.04
69.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, MN
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.92 €2.52
-30.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$28.69 €24.72
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.97 $1.97
$4.46 €3.84
-55.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$2.05 €1.77
-30.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.95 $19.95
$29.55 €25.46
-32.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.82 €1.56
-56.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$38.8K €33.5K
-32.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K $24.6K
$33.1K €28.5K
-25.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, MN
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 $146
$189 €163
-22.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.4 $51.4
$22.80 €19.65
125.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.3 $77.3
$37.59 €32.39
105.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, MN
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.18 $43.18
$57.7 €49.75
-25.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.74 €17.87
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$10.82 €9.33
37.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, MN
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,396 $1,396
$728 €628
91.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K $12.0K
$14.8K €12.7K
-18.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, MN
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.4 $64.4
$88.6 €76.4
-27.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$36.85 €31.75
37.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.4 $72.4
$102 €87.9
-29.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 $141
$116 €100
21.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, MN
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 $1,612
$1,569 €1,352
2.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,370 $1,370
$1,218 €1,050
12.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,649 $2,649
$2,795 €2,409
-5.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,219 $2,219
$1,975 €1,702
12.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,063 $3,063
$7,754 €6,680
-60.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,122 $2,122
$5,176 €4,460
-59.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, MN
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$2,343 €2,019
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.61
3.39
94.99%

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

Last update for Austin, MN: June 6, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,612 in Austin, MN versus $1,569 in Barcelona. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Austin, MN versus $69.0 in Barcelona. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Austin, MN vs $319 in Barcelona – so Austin, MN 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
Austin, MN vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barcelona cheaper than Austin, MN?
Yes – Austin, MN is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $3,657 per month in Austin, MN and $3,505 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Austin, MN vs Barcelona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,438 in Austin, MN and $2,337 in Barcelona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,396 per month in Austin, MN and $728 in Barcelona. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Austin, MN or Barcelona?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,438 in Austin, MN and $2,337 in Barcelona. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Austin, MN 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, Austin, MN 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, Austin, MN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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