Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Alton, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Alton, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,336 per month in Barcelona vs $2,648 in Alton, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,475 per month in Barcelona vs $3,888 in Alton, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,614 per month in Barcelona vs $5,128 in Alton, IL, rent included.

Barcelona is about 12% cheaper than Alton, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Barcelona and Alton, IL sit above the global median – Barcelona by 74%, Alton, IL by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.45 €14.88

$19.14 $19.14

-8.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.8 €59.6

$66.6 $66.6

4.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.91 €11.86

$11.83 $11.83

17.58%

Cappuccino

$2.74 €2.34

$4.99 $4.99

-45.09%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 €2.30

$2.18 $2.18

23.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 €1.73

$1.93 $1.93

5.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.51 €3.85

$5.03 $5.03

-10.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 €3.93

$6.65 $6.65

-30.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 €1.09

$0.78 $0.78

64.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.10 €1.79

$2.66 $2.66

-21.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 €1.70

$6.15 $6.15

-67.64%

Eggs

$3.45 €2.95

$3.77 $3.77

-8.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.61 €15.87

$7.73 $7.73

140.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.41 €8.03

$7.55 $7.55

24.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.70 €15.95

$19.52 $19.52

-4.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 €2.22

$6.73 $6.73

-61.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.39 €2.04

$2.54 $2.54

-5.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 €1.86

$6.91 $6.91

-68.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.81 €2.40

$5.18 $5.18

-45.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 €1.73

$5.02 $5.02

-59.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 €1.60

$4.28 $4.28

-56.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 €1.24

$1.98 $1.98

-26.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 €0.79

$2.54 $2.54

-63.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.82 €5.82

$7.05 $7.05

-3.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.71 €6.58

$14.86 $14.86

-48.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.18

$1.90 $1.90

-27.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 €1.99

$3.97 $3.97

-41.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 €2.46

$2.03 $2.03

41.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.04 €24.77

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.43 €3.78

$3.07 $3.07

44.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 €1.82

$1.58 $1.58

35.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.96 €24.71

$29.75 $29.75

-2.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.90 €1.62

$0.88 $0.88

115.91%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.9K €32.3K

$29.4K $29.4K

28.82%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.3K €28.4K

$25.2K $25.2K

32.33%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$186 €158

$239 $239

-22.26%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.17 €18.91

$50.8 $50.8

-56.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.52 €31.15

$62.2 $62.2

-41.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.4 €49.81

$42.67 $42.67

36.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.75 €17.70

Cinema Ticket

$11.10 €9.47

$12.21 $12.21

-9.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$705 €601

$1,289 $1,289

-45.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K €13.0K

$23.6K $23.6K

-35.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.4 €73.7

$57.2 $57.2

51.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.88 €31.46

$44.17 $44.17

-16.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 €88.8

$75.6 $75.6

37.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 €98.4

$196 $196

-41.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 €1,312

$1,599 $1,599

-3.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,242 €1,060

$1,349 $1,349

-7.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,728 €2,327

$2,657 $2,657

2.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,011 €1,716

$2,266 $2,266

-11.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,155 €6,104

$1,531 $1,531

367.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,843 €4,131

$1,465 $1,465

230.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,474 €2,111

$3,837 $3,837

-35.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.39

6.56

-48.32%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: April 19, 2026

Last update for Alton, IL: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,538 in Barcelona versus $1,599 in Alton, 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 55% higher in Alton, 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 in Barcelona versus $67 in Alton, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $318 in Barcelona vs $405 in Alton, IL – so Barcelona 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 Alton, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alton, IL costs about 13% more than Barcelona, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,504 per month in Barcelona and $3,972 in Alton, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,336 in Barcelona and $2,648 in Alton, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $705 per month in Barcelona and $1,289 in Alton, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Barcelona, where all-in costs run around $2,336, than in Alton, IL at $2,648. In Barcelona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Alton, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Barcelona costs $2,336 versus $2,648 in Alton, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Barcelona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Alton, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.