😐A single person spends $2,341 per month in Barcelona vs $702 in Aktau, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,462 per month in Barcelona vs $1,160 in Aktau, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,582 per month in Barcelona vs $1,619 in Aktau, rent included.
😐Barcelona costs about 234% more than Aktau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Barcelona sits 75% above the global median, while Aktau is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Aktau
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$9.63₸4,455
82.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$38.39₸17.7K
78.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$8.84₸4,085
55.54%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$2.27₸1,048
21.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$0.56₸257
396.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.43₸200
376.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$1.19₸551
287.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$1.38₸639
232.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Aktau
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.20₸557
6.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$0.39₸179
441.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.69₸782
16.57%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$1.37₸631
151.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$8.90₸4,117
111.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$3.89₸1,800
142.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$7.86₸3,634
141.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$1.29₸597
110.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$1.98₸916
19.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$2.14₸991
-2.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$2.52₸1,166
9.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$0.58₸268
239.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$0.51₸236
250.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$1.35₸626
11.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.81₸376
11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$2.40₸1,108
181.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$9.04₸4,179
-16.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$0.63₸290
128.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$0.76₸352
217.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Aktau
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$0.14₸66.8
2064.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$1.03₸475
330.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$0.59₸271
247.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$4.77₸2,206
514.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$0.47₸215
302.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$20.5K₸9.5M
89.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$24.5K₸11.3M
32.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Aktau
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$39.58₸18.3K
376.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$7.58₸3,505
193.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$9.75₸4,507
277.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Aktau
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$31.97₸14.8K
81.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$2.69₸1,242
310.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Aktau
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$128₸59.1K
468.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$2,304₸1.1M
560.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Aktau
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$58.4₸27.0K
51.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$34.63₸16.0K
6.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$64.8₸30.0K
58.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$79.7₸36.8K
49.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Aktau
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$251₸116.3K
506.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$179₸82.7K
581.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$446₸206.2K
526.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$373₸172.2K
444.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$779₸360.2K
810.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$617₸285.3K
685.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Aktau
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$548₸253.2K
339.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
8
-57.62%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Aktau: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,526 in Barcelona versus $251 in Aktau. 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 339% higher in Barcelona, 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 $69.0 in Barcelona versus $38.00 in Aktau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $178 – making Aktau the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Barcelona vs Aktau: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Barcelona or Aktau?
Barcelona costs about 234% more than Aktau, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 vs Aktau?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,512 per month in Barcelona and $1,052 in Aktau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Barcelona or Aktau?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aktau, 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 vs Aktau?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Barcelona and $38.00 in Aktau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Barcelona or Aktau?
Groceries cost about 80% more in Barcelona, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Barcelona or Aktau?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Aktau, where all-in costs run around $702, than in Barcelona at $2,341. In Aktau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barcelona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Barcelona or Aktau?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aktau costs $702 versus $2,341 in Barcelona. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Barcelona compared to Aktau?
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 Aktau?
If budget matters most, go with Aktau. 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.
Barcelona vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado