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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,356 per month in Barcelona vs $898 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,455 per month in Barcelona vs $1,407 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,553 per month in Barcelona vs $1,916 in Astana, rent included.

Barcelona costs about 162% more than Astana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Barcelona sits 75% above the global median, while Astana is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.64 €15.01

$8.23 ₸3,868

114.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.1 €58.0

$29.11 ₸13.7K

133.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.96 €11.88

$5.95 ₸2,797

134.62%

Cappuccino

$2.76 €2.35

$2.15 ₸1,009

28.37%

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

$2.76 €2.35

$0.94 ₸442

193.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 €1.67

$0.54 ₸252

264.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.53 €3.85

$1.19 ₸559

280.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 €3.85

$2.92 ₸1,371

55.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 €1.05

$0.93 ₸439

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 €1.73

$0.47 ₸221

334.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 €1.63

$1.40 ₸660

36.43%

Eggs

$3.39 €2.89

$1.71 ₸804

98.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.34 €15.60

$9.33 ₸4,386

96.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 €7.99

$4.74 ₸2,229

98.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.90 €16.08

$7.10 ₸3,339

166.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 €2.23

$1.32 ₸622

99.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.40 €2.04

$1.83 ₸862

31.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 €1.80

$1.98 ₸930

7.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.70 €2.30

$1.95 ₸919

38.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 €1.75

$0.59 ₸276

247.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 €1.52

$0.37 ₸176

381.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 €1.25

$1.03 ₸483

42.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 €0.77

$0.75 ₸351

21.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.01 €5.97

$1.81 ₸850

287.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.59 €6.46

$8.47 ₸3,980

-10.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 €1.22

$0.99 ₸467

45.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 €1.97

$1.65 ₸774

40.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 €2.50

$0.21 ₸98.3

1300.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.38 €25.00

$14.43 ₸6,785

103.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.53 €3.85

$1.71 ₸804

164.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 €1.82

$0.68 ₸318

214.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.97 €24.65

$4.39 ₸2,064

559.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.89 €1.61

$0.51 ₸238

270.59%

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

$39.0K €33.2K

$20.5K ₸9.6M

90.28%

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

$32.4K €27.6K

$25.4K ₸11.9M

27.91%

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

$189 €161

$54.5 ₸25.6K

246.50%

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

$22.24 €18.92

$8.14 ₸3,826

173.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.57 €31.12

$13.70 ₸6,442

166.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 €49.38

$50.0 ₸23.5K

16.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.30 €18.13

$11.30 ₸5,312

88.50%

Cinema Ticket

$11.01 €9.37

$5.20 ₸2,446

111.73%

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

$731 €622

$235 ₸110.3K

211.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K €12.6K

$4,809 ₸2.3M

208.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 €76.0

$56.2 ₸26.4K

59.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.38 €31.81

$34.80 ₸16.4K

7.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 €89.0

$87.4 ₸41.1K

19.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 €99.0

$87.9 ₸41.3K

32.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,551 €1,320

$481 ₸225.9K

222.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,216 €1,035

$324 ₸152.2K

275.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,799 €2,382

$851 ₸399.9K

229.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,008 €1,709

$605 ₸284.6K

231.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,161 €6,094

$1,292 ₸607.1K

454.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,021 €4,273

$943 ₸443.5K

432.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,462 €2,095

$723 ₸339.8K

240.65%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Astana: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,551 in Barcelona versus $481 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 241% 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 in Barcelona versus $29 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $316 vs $176 – 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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,356 in Barcelona, $898 in Astana – roughly 162% apart. Barcelona costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,534 per month in Barcelona and $1,346 in Astana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $731 per month in Barcelona and $235 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 80% more in Barcelona, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Astana, where all-in costs run around $898, than in Barcelona at $2,356. In Astana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barcelona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Barcelona has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $898 in Astana to $2,356 in Barcelona. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 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.