🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,342 in Badajoz versus $2,476 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,001 in Badajoz versus $3,545 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,661 in Badajoz versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Badajoz costs roughly 46% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Badajoz is 2% below, Barcelona is 81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Badajoz
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.92€12.93
$18.74€16.24
-20.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.2€44.40
$69.5€60.2
-26.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.63€10.08
$13.77€11.93
-15.54%
Cappuccino
$1.90€1.65
$3.10€2.69
-38.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85€2.47
$2.83€2.45
0.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.22
$1.88€1.63
-25.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26€1.95
$3.98€3.45
-43.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57€3.09
$4.53€3.93
-21.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Badajoz
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11€0.96
$1.27€1.10
-12.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33€1.15
$2.16€1.87
-38.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65€1.43
$1.76€1.52
-6.25%
Eggs
$2.99€2.59
$5.13€4.44
-41.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.17€13.15
$17.88€15.50
-15.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.10€7.02
$9.65€8.37
-16.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.56€10.89
$20.15€17.46
-37.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24€1.94
$3.25€2.82
-31.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.77€2.40
$2.23€1.93
24.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13€1.85
$2.60€2.25
-18.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50€2.16
$2.76€2.39
-9.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.94€1.68
$2.21€1.92
-12.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87€1.62
$2.12€1.84
-11.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99€0.86
$1.55€1.34
-36.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57€0.49
$0.95€0.83
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.78€5.01
$7.34€6.36
-21.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.08€6.13
$8.05€6.97
-12.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73€1.50
$1.54€1.34
12.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42€2.09
$2.79€2.42
-13.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Badajoz
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37€1.19
$3.11€2.69
-55.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.41
$25.86€22.41
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.84€2.46
$3.27€2.84
-13.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46€1.27
$1.48€1.29
-1.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.01€19.07
$34.27€29.70
-35.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.78€1.54
$1.73€1.50
2.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K€22.7K
$36.4K€31.5K
-28.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K€24.7K
$30.5K€26.5K
-6.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Badajoz
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135€117
$187€162
-28.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48€16.02
$15.14€13.12
22.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.33€29.75
$37.69€32.66
-8.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Badajoz
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.34€36.69
$55.9€48.48
-24.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.61€3.99
$17.08€14.81
-73.01%
Cinema Ticket
$8.81€7.63
$11.41€9.89
-22.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Badajoz
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$365€316
$997€864
-63.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,210€5,382
$16.5K€14.3K
-62.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Badajoz
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.4€86.1
$92.6€80.3
7.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.67€27.45
$41.22€35.72
-23.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.1€52.1
$111€96.4
-45.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.2€63.5
$125€108
-41.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Badajoz
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$610€528
$1,707€1,479
-64.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$481€417
$1,286€1,114
-62.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$879€762
$2,565€2,223
-65.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715€620
$1,942€1,683
-63.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,818€1,575
$7,647€6,627
-76.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,450€1,256
$5,167€4,478
-71.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Badajoz
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,549€1,342
$2,348€2,035
-34.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.77
3.16
-12.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Badajoz: September 14, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $610 in Badajoz and $1,707 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 52% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $51.0 in Badajoz vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $263 vs $336 per month, with Badajoz cheaper across the board.
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
Badajoz vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barcelona cheaper than Badajoz?
Badajoz is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Badajoz or Barcelona?
On paper, salaries run 52% lower in Barcelona. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Badajoz and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $610 in Badajoz versus $1,707 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Badajoz and in Barcelona?
All in, you'll spend $1,342 per month in Badajoz versus $2,476 in Barcelona – a 84% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Badajoz runs roughly 0% less than in Barcelona. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Badajoz or in Barcelona?
At $1,342 in Badajoz versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Badajoz but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Badajoz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Badajoz or Barcelona more family-friendly?
For families, Badajoz is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Barcelona, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Badajoz or Barcelona?
Safety-wise, Badajoz and Barcelona are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Badajoz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.