Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Astana Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Astana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,367 per month in Barcelona vs $912 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,465 per month in Barcelona vs $1,422 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,563 per month in Barcelona vs $1,933 in Astana, rent included.

Barcelona costs about 160% more than Astana, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Barcelona sits 77% above the global median, while Astana is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58 €15.25
$8.10 ₸3,936
117.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4 €59.4
$28.85 ₸14.0K
137.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.06 €12.19
$5.76 ₸2,797
144.10%
Cappuccino
$2.78 €2.41
$2.19 ₸1,066
26.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 €2.43
$0.91 ₸444
207.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 €1.79
$0.53 ₸259
288.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.46 €3.87
$1.14 ₸554
291.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 €4.00
$2.95 ₸1,432
56.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.08
$1.01 ₸492
22.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 €1.76
$0.50 ₸245
306.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 €1.67
$1.40 ₸680
37.14%
Eggs
$3.31 €2.87
$1.79 ₸868
84.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.43 €15.99
$9.34 ₸4,537
97.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.49 €8.23
$4.73 ₸2,300
100.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.16 €16.62
$6.96 ₸3,381
175.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.64 €2.29
$1.36 ₸661
94.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.45 €2.12
$1.87 ₸907
31.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 €1.84
$1.92 ₸935
10.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.85 €2.47
$1.97 ₸959
44.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 €1.77
$0.58 ₸283
251.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 €1.61
$0.38 ₸183
386.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.28
$1.02 ₸495
44.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$0.75 ₸364
12.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14 €6.20
$1.81 ₸878
294.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.88 €6.84
$9.14 ₸4,440
-13.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.20
$1.02 ₸497
35.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 €2.00
$1.70 ₸823
35.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.98 €2.59
$0.21 ₸102
1319.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.26 €25.38
$14.56 ₸7,075
100.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.60 €3.99
$1.79 ₸868
156.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.07 €1.79
$0.71 ₸345
191.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.18 €25.31
$4.51 ₸2,191
547.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.84 €1.60
$0.47 ₸226
291.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K €33.8K
$20.7K ₸10.1M
88.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K €28.4K
$24.7K ₸12.0M
32.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 €163
$53.9 ₸26.2K
248.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93 €19.90
$8.00 ₸3,888
186.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71 €31.85
$13.90 ₸6,751
164.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.4 €49.77
$49.83 ₸24.2K
15.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70 €17.95
$11.16 ₸5,419
85.48%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19 €9.71
$5.30 ₸2,572
111.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$721 €625
$238 ₸115.8K
202.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K €13.1K
$4,790 ₸2.3M
214.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2 €74.8
$55.8 ₸27.1K
54.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07 €32.16
$34.85 ₸16.9K
6.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €88.5
$88.8 ₸43.1K
14.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 €101
$86.1 ₸41.8K
34.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,534 €1,330
$478 ₸232.1K
220.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,220 €1,059
$328 ₸159.2K
272.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,696 €2,338
$848 ₸412.2K
217.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,746
$598 ₸290.3K
236.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,220 €6,264
$1,378 ₸669.5K
423.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,189 €4,501
$993 ₸482.3K
422.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,359 €2,047
$798 ₸387.8K
195.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
16.12
-78.97%

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

Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026

Last update for Astana: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,534 in Barcelona versus $478 in Astana. 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 196% higher in Barcelona, 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 $68.0 in Barcelona versus $29.00 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $318 vs $178 – making Astana 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 Astana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Barcelona and Astana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona, $912 in Astana – roughly 160% apart. Barcelona costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Astana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,550 per month in Barcelona and $1,367 in Astana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Barcelona and Astana?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Astana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Astana?
Kindergarten costs $721 per month in Barcelona and $238 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 78% more in Barcelona, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Astana, where all-in costs run around $912, than in Barcelona at $2,367. In Astana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barcelona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Astana?
It depends on your priorities. Barcelona has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $912 in Astana to $2,367 in Barcelona. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Barcelona or Astana safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Barcelona and Astana?
If budget matters most, go with Astana. 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.

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