Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Appleton, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Appleton, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,476 per month in Barcelona vs $2,161 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,545 per month in Barcelona vs $3,302 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,613 per month in Barcelona vs $4,443 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

Barcelona costs about 15% more than Appleton, WI, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Barcelona and Appleton, WI sit above the global median – Barcelona by 81%, Appleton, WI by 58%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.74 €16.31

$18.34 $18.34

2.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.5 €60.5

$63.9 $63.9

8.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 €11.98

$10.97 $10.97

25.52%

Cappuccino

$3.10 €2.70

$5.28 $5.28

-41.29%

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

$2.83 €2.46

$2.60 $2.60

8.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 €1.64

$2.29 $2.29

-17.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 €3.47

$4.37 $4.37

-8.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 €3.94

$6.19 $6.19

-26.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 €1.11

$1.02 $1.02

24.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.16 €1.88

$2.96 $2.96

-27.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.53

$5.80 $5.80

-69.66%

Eggs

$5.13 €4.46

$4.66 $4.66

10.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.88 €15.56

$14.45 $14.45

23.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.65 €8.40

$8.43 $8.43

14.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.15 €17.54

$15.40 $15.40

30.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 €2.83

$4.93 $4.93

-34.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 €1.94

$1.32 $1.32

68.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 €2.26

$3.10 $3.10

-16.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.76 €2.40

$4.32 $4.32

-36.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 €1.92

$2.04 $2.04

8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.12 €1.84

$2.81 $2.81

-24.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 €1.35

$2.12 $2.12

-26.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 €0.83

$3.03 $3.03

-68.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.34 €6.39

$10.66 $10.66

-31.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.05 €7.00

$15.03 $15.03

-46.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 €1.34

$1.68 $1.68

-8.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 €2.43

$3.39 $3.39

-17.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.11 €2.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.86 €22.51

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 €2.85

$3.26 $3.26

0.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 €1.29

$1.36 $1.36

8.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.27 €29.83

$24.85 $24.85

37.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 €1.50

$1.00 $1.00

73.00%

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

$36.4K €31.7K

$35.3K $35.3K

3.17%

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

$30.5K €26.6K

$24.9K $24.9K

22.64%

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

$187 €163

$176 $176

6.11%

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

$15.14 €13.18

$44.85 $44.85

-66.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.69 €32.80

$62.5 $62.5

-39.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 €48.68

$23.97 $23.97

133.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.08 €14.87

$40.23 $40.23

-57.54%

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 €9.93

$14.67 $14.67

-22.22%

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

$997 €867

$1,540 $1,540

-35.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K €14.4K

$31.0K $31.0K

-46.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.6 €80.6

$40.66 $40.66

127.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.22 €35.88

$25.29 $25.29

62.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 €96.8

$50.8 $50.8

118.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 €109

$112 $112

11.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,707 €1,486

$1,519 $1,519

12.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,286 €1,119

$1,001 $1,001

28.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,565 €2,233

$1,812 $1,812

41.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 €1,690

$1,889 $1,889

2.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,647 €6,655

$2,260 $2,260

238.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,167 €4,497

$2,327 $2,327

122.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,348 €2,044

$3,966 $3,966

-40.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.16

6.14

-48.53%

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

Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026

Last update for Appleton, WI: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,707 in Barcelona versus $1,519 in Appleton, WI. 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 69% higher in Appleton, WI, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Barcelona versus $64.0 in Appleton, WI. Groceries tell a different story – $336 in Barcelona vs $382 in Appleton, WI – 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 Appleton, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Barcelona is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,714 per month in Barcelona and $3,241 in Appleton, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Appleton, WI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Barcelona and $64.0 in Appleton, WI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Barcelona – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Appleton, WI, where all-in costs run around $2,161, than in Barcelona at $2,476. In Appleton, WI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barcelona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Appleton, WI – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Appleton, WI. 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.