😐A single person spends $2,337 per month in Barcelona vs $912 in Acuna, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,468 per month in Barcelona vs $1,555 in Acuna, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,599 per month in Barcelona vs $2,198 in Acuna, rent included.
😐Barcelona costs about 156% more than Acuna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Barcelona sits 74% above the global median, while Acuna is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Acuna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$13.93MX$239
22.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$22.07MX$379
213.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$8.16MX$140
68.87%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$2.84MX$48.69
-2.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$1.06MX$18.27
163.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.99MX$16.91
101.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$2.36MX$40.51
84.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$3.99MX$68.5
18.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Acuna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.53MX$26.32
-15.69%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$2.04MX$34.95
0.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.66MX$28.55
19.88%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$2.84MX$48.80
19.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$6.97MX$120
169.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$4.84MX$83.1
93.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$9.00MX$154
112.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$2.44MX$41.84
10.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.41MX$24.12
65.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.75MX$30.01
21.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$1.99MX$34.19
43.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$1.74MX$29.86
13.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.49MX$25.59
20.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$1.01MX$17.40
43.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$1.28MX$21.95
-32.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$3.98MX$68.3
70.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$10.88MX$187
-27.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.60MX$27.50
-13.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$2.75MX$47.13
-13.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Acuna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.65MX$11.08
349.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$24.14MX$414
18.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$2.66MX$45.70
67.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$1.54MX$26.40
33.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$8.08MX$139
265.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.24MX$21.35
46.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$17.9KMX$307.6K
116.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$17.7KMX$304.1K
86.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Acuna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$57.6MX$988
228.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$21.84MX$375
4.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$37.20MX$639
1.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Acuna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$27.98MX$480
106.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$14.72MX$253
40.90%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$4.16MX$71.3
160.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Acuna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$160MX$2,746
355.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$3,566MX$61.2K
314.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Acuna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$46.24MX$794
91.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$40.23MX$691
-8.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$88.8MX$1,525
14.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$83.0MX$1,425
39.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Acuna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$286MX$4,916
447.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$198MX$3,394
516.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$840MX$14.4K
232.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$642MX$11.0K
207.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$1,985MX$34.1K
290.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$1,336MX$22.9K
287.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Acuna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
11.48
-70.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Acuna: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,569 in Barcelona versus $286 in Acuna. 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 $69.0 in Barcelona versus $22.00 in Acuna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $319 vs $226 – making Acuna 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
Barcelona vs Acuna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Acuna cheaper than Barcelona?
Yes – Barcelona is pricier by about 156%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $3,505 per month in Barcelona and $1,368 in Acuna. 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 Acuna, 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 Barcelona vs Acuna?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,337 in Barcelona and $912 in Acuna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 19% less in Acuna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Barcelona or Acuna?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Acuna, where all-in costs run around $912, than in Barcelona at $2,337. In Acuna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barcelona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Barcelona or Acuna more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Acuna – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Barcelona or Acuna?
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 Acuna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Barcelona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.