🙂A single person spends $2,476 per month in Barcelona vs $2,642 in Almelo, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,545 per month in Barcelona vs $3,968 in Almelo, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,613 per month in Barcelona vs $5,294 in Almelo, rent included.
🙂Barcelona is about 6% cheaper than Almelo, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Barcelona and Almelo sit above the global median – Barcelona by 81%, Almelo by 93%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Almelo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.32
$20.94€18.25
-10.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.5
$105€91.9
-34.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€11.99
$16.28€14.18
-15.42%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$4.59€4.00
-32.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$3.93€3.43
-27.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$3.20€2.79
-41.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$5.66€4.93
-29.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$5.64€4.91
-19.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Almelo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.41€1.23
-9.93%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$2.61€2.27
-17.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$2.74€2.39
-35.77%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$4.67€4.07
9.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.58
$13.22€11.52
35.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$13.46€11.72
-28.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.55
$21.63€18.84
-6.84%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.83
$3.24€2.82
0.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$2.49€2.17
-10.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$2.59€2.26
0.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$5.01€4.36
-44.91%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$2.18€1.90
1.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$1.61€1.40
31.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$1.36€1.19
13.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$1.32€1.15
-28.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$14.48€12.61
-49.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$7.08€6.17
13.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$1.41€1.23
9.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$2.61€2.27
6.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Almelo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$3.01€2.62
3.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.53
$105€91.8
-75.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$6.86€5.98
-52.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$2.84€2.47
-47.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.86
$29.62€25.81
15.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$2.27€1.98
-23.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$42.0K€36.6K
-13.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$41.1K€35.8K
-25.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Almelo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$240€209
-22.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.19
$21.44€18.68
-29.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.83
$52.1€45.40
-27.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Almelo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.73
$42.70€37.20
31.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.88
$25.08€21.85
-31.90%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.94
$17.02€14.83
-32.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Almelo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€868
$1,814€1,580
-45.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$7,793€6,790
112.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Almelo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.7
$109€94.9
-14.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.91
$47.01€40.95
-12.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$105€91.2
6.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$199€173
-36.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Almelo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,487
$1,369€1,192
24.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,120
$1,218€1,061
5.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,235
$2,453€2,137
4.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,692
$2,000€1,743
-2.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,662
$5,796€5,050
31.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,501
$4,956€4,318
4.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Almelo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,046
$4,859€4,233
-51.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
3.62
-12.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Almelo: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,707 in Barcelona versus $1,369 in Almelo. 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 107% higher in Almelo, 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 $105 in Almelo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $336 vs $366 – making Barcelona 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 Almelo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Barcelona or Almelo?
Almelo costs about 7% more than Barcelona, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Almelo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,714 per month in Barcelona and $3,962 in Almelo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Barcelona or Almelo?
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 expensive is transport in Barcelona compared to Almelo?
Public transport costs about 307% less in Barcelona. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Barcelona and in Almelo?
Kindergarten costs $997 per month in Barcelona and $1,814 in Almelo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Barcelona or in Almelo?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,476 in Barcelona and $2,642 in Almelo. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Barcelona or Almelo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Barcelona costs $2,476 versus $2,642 in Almelo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Barcelona compared to Almelo?
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 Almelo?
If budget matters most, go with Barcelona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almelo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.