🙂A single person spends $2,320 per month in Barcelona vs $2,358 in Addison, IL, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,426 per month in Barcelona vs $3,633 in Addison, IL, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,532 per month in Barcelona vs $4,908 in Addison, IL, rent included.
🙂Barcelona is about 2% cheaper than Addison, IL, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Barcelona and Addison, IL sit above the global median – Barcelona by 74%, Addison, IL by 77%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Addison, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$14.86$14.86
18.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$87.6$87.6
-20.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$11.67$11.67
21.34%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$5.23$5.23
-46.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$2.23$2.23
26.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$2.19$2.19
-5.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$6.03$6.03
-23.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$8.38$8.38
-44.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Addison, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$0.86$0.86
43.02%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$4.64$4.64
-56.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$2.38$2.38
-16.81%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$5.14$5.14
-32.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$7.89$7.89
132.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$11.24$11.24
-12.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$11.17$11.17
71.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$4.04$4.04
-32.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$1.57$1.57
51.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$2.95$2.95
-29.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$3.38$3.38
-18.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$1.29$1.29
51.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$2.16$2.16
-17.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$1.68$1.68
-11.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.99$0.99
-8.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$9.91$9.91
-28.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$8.31$8.31
-5.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.68$1.68
-17.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$3.40$3.40
-29.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Addison, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$1.96$1.96
53.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$3.57$3.57
22.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$1.37$1.37
55.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$28.93$28.93
2.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$0.98$0.98
85.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$24.6K$24.6K
53.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$25.7K$25.7K
26.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Addison, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$176$176
7.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$51.5$51.5
-56.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$50.9$50.9
-26.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Addison, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$42.38$42.38
36.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$10.95$10.95
-0.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Addison, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$1,346$1,346
-47.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$23.4K$23.4K
-36.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Addison, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$45.38$45.38
97.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$39.52$39.52
-7.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$65.7$65.7
58.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$69.8$69.8
70.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Addison, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$1,712$1,712
-7.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$1,326$1,326
-6.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$3,452$3,452
-21.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$2,521$2,521
-19.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$2,343$2,343
221.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$2,425$2,425
116.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Addison, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$3,544$3,544
-33.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.52
-48.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Addison, IL: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,579 in Barcelona versus $1,712 in Addison, IL. 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 50% higher in Addison, IL, 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 $70.0 in Barcelona versus $88.0 in Addison, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $320 in Barcelona vs $315 in Addison, IL – so Addison, IL 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
Barcelona vs Addison, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Barcelona or Addison, IL?
Addison, IL costs about 2% more than Barcelona, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Barcelona and in Addison, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,480 per month in Barcelona and $3,537 in Addison, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Barcelona or Addison, IL?
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 do dining costs compare in Barcelona and in Addison, IL?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Barcelona and $88.0 in Addison, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Barcelona or in Addison, IL?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Addison, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Barcelona or in Addison, IL?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Barcelona, where all-in costs run around $2,320, than in Addison, IL at $2,358. In Barcelona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Addison, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Barcelona or Addison, IL?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Barcelona costs $2,320 versus $2,358 in Addison, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Barcelona compared to Addison, IL?
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 Barcelona or to Addison, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Barcelona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Addison, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.