🙂A single person spends $2,320 per month in Barcelona vs $2,622 in Apeldoorn, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,426 per month in Barcelona vs $3,697 in Apeldoorn, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,532 per month in Barcelona vs $4,772 in Apeldoorn, rent included.
🙂Barcelona is about 12% cheaper than Apeldoorn, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Barcelona and Apeldoorn sit above the global median – Barcelona by 74%, Apeldoorn by 96%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Apeldoorn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$21.11€18.49
-16.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$80.0€70.1
-12.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$13.08€11.46
8.26%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$4.34€3.80
-35.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$3.42€3.00
-17.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$3.34€2.92
-38.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$6.00€5.26
-23.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$5.27€4.61
-11.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Apeldoorn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.29€1.13
-4.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$2.51€2.20
-19.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$3.20€2.80
-38.13%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$4.88€4.28
-28.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$13.27€11.62
38.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$15.43€13.51
-36.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$16.90€14.80
13.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$2.30€2.01
18.70%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$2.51€2.20
-5.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$2.10€1.84
-0.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$4.02€3.52
-31.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$2.11€1.85
-7.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$2.32€2.03
-22.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$1.21€1.06
22.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.77€0.67
18.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$14.63€12.81
-51.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$7.09€6.21
11.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.57€1.37
-12.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$2.64€2.31
-9.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Apeldoorn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$4.20€3.68
-28.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$92.4€80.9
-68.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$3.85€3.37
13.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$2.57€2.25
-17.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$22.79€19.96
29.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$2.22€1.95
-18.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$34.1K€29.9K
10.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$35.4K€31.0K
-8.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Apeldoorn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$268€234
-29.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$25.00€21.90
-10.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$54.2€47.45
-31.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Apeldoorn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$35.00€30.65
65.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$41.61€36.45
-50.35%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$16.40€14.37
-33.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Apeldoorn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$1,858€1,628
-62.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$6,139€5,376
142.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Apeldoorn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$90.9€79.6
-1.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$38.39€33.62
-4.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$99.7€87.3
4.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$114€99.5
5.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Apeldoorn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$983€861
60.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$1,206€1,056
2.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$1,643€1,439
65.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$1,720€1,507
18.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$4,501€3,942
67.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$3,752€3,286
39.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Apeldoorn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$3,240€2,838
-27.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.36
-22.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Apeldoorn: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,579 in Barcelona versus $983 in Apeldoorn. 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 37% higher in Apeldoorn, 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 $80.0 in Apeldoorn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $345 – 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 Apeldoorn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Apeldoorn cheaper than Barcelona?
Yes – Apeldoorn is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $3,480 per month in Barcelona and $3,934 in Apeldoorn. 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 Barcelona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Barcelona or in Apeldoorn?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Barcelona and $80.0 in Apeldoorn. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Barcelona and in Apeldoorn?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,320 in Barcelona and $2,622 in Apeldoorn. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Barcelona or in Apeldoorn?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Barcelona, where all-in costs run around $2,320, than in Apeldoorn at $2,622. In Barcelona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Apeldoorn it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Barcelona or Apeldoorn more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Barcelona – 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 Apeldoorn?
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 Barcelona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Apeldoorn makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.