😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,441 in Barcelona versus $2,335 in Artesia, NM.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,477 in Barcelona versus $3,142 in Artesia, NM.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,513 in Barcelona versus $3,949 in Artesia, NM.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 5% more expensive than in Artesia, NM, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona81% above, Artesia, NM73% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Artesia, NM
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.35€16.30
$16.09$16.09
14.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.9€59.4
$46.96$46.96
42.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€12.21
$11.93$11.93
15.26%
Cappuccino
$3.17€2.81
$6.19$6.19
-48.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88€2.55
$2.33$2.33
23.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.73
$1.54$1.54
26.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.89€3.45
$5.96$5.96
-34.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50€3.99
$6.69$6.69
-32.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Artesia, NM
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.14
$0.88$0.88
45.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.07€1.84
$2.91$2.91
-28.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79€1.59
$2.50$2.50
-28.40%
Eggs
$5.04€4.48
$3.43$3.43
46.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.29€15.36
$11.80$11.80
46.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.41€8.36
$11.51$11.51
-18.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.40€17.23
$12.95$12.95
49.81%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18€2.82
$3.57$3.57
-10.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09€1.86
$1.40$1.40
49.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64€2.35
$2.50$2.50
5.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.83€2.52
$3.56$3.56
-20.51%
Potato(1kg)
$2.20€1.96
$2.14$2.14
2.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.90
$2.72$2.72
-21.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59€1.42
$1.74$1.74
-8.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93€0.83
$1.57$1.57
-40.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.25€6.44
$9.49$9.49
-23.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.00€7.11
$9.78$9.78
-18.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.31
$2.12$2.12
-30.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77€2.46
$4.72$4.72
-41.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Artesia, NM
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94€2.61
$2.18$2.18
34.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.97€23.07
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.06€2.72
$1.67$1.67
83.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.34
$1.36$1.36
11.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.08€30.28
$27.26$27.26
25.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71€1.52
$0.91$0.91
87.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K€32.2K
$36.1K$36.1K
0.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K€27.2K
$25.4K$25.4K
20.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Artesia, NM
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183€163
$147$147
24.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.76€13.11
$69.9$69.9
-78.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.68€32.58
$68.7$68.7
-46.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Artesia, NM
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8€49.60
$42.40$42.40
31.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.50€14.66
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.30€10.03
$7.81$7.81
44.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Artesia, NM
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$983€873
$576$576
70.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.7K€14.8K
$6,957$6,957
139.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Artesia, NM
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.9€81.7
$37.32$37.32
146.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.15€35.66
$35.88$35.88
11.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€96.3
$85.7$85.7
26.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€109
$80.6$80.6
51.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Artesia, NM
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,689€1,500
$1,545$1,545
9.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,323€1,175
$1,215$1,215
8.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,617€2,325
$2,093$2,093
25.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,924€1,709
$1,632$1,632
17.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,336€6,517
$2,801$2,801
161.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,253€4,666
$2,394$2,394
119.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Artesia, NM
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,313€2,055
$3,467$3,467
-33.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
6.13
-48.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 27, 2026
Last update for Artesia, NM: September 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,689 in Barcelona and $1,545 in Artesia, NM. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Artesia, NM pays 50% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Barcelona vs $47.00 in Artesia, NM for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $328 vs $325 per month, with Artesia, NM cheaper across the board.
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 Artesia, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Barcelona or Artesia, NM?
Artesia, NM wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Barcelona. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Artesia, NM the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Barcelona or in Artesia, NM?
On paper, salaries run 50% lower in Artesia, NM. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Barcelona compared to Artesia, NM?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,689 in Barcelona versus $1,545 in Artesia, NM. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Barcelona and in Artesia, NM?
Childcare runs $983 in Barcelona versus $576 in Artesia, NM. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Barcelona and in Artesia, NM?
Dining out is cheaper in Artesia, NM – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $67.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Barcelona or in Artesia, NM?
At $2,335 in Artesia, NM versus $2,441 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Artesia, NM but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Artesia, NM the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Barcelona or Artesia, NM?
Both work as nomad bases, but Artesia, NM delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,335 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Artesia, NM hard to pass up.
How safe is Barcelona compared to Artesia, NM?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Artesia, NM are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Artesia, NM gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.