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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,320 per month in Barcelona vs $892 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,426 per month in Barcelona vs $1,426 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,532 per month in Barcelona vs $1,961 in Astana, rent included.

Barcelona costs about 160% more than Astana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Barcelona sits 74% above the global median, while Astana is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 €15.46
$8.27 ₸3,889
113.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7 €61.0
$29.74 ₸14.0K
134.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.16 €12.40
$5.74 ₸2,697
146.69%
Cappuccino
$2.80 €2.45
$2.22 ₸1,045
26.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 €2.46
$0.91 ₸429
208.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 €1.81
$0.57 ₸266
261.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.60 €4.03
$1.18 ₸557
289.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 €4.11
$3.01 ₸1,413
55.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 €1.08
$0.97 ₸456
26.80%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 €1.78
$0.46 ₸219
341.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 €1.73
$1.38 ₸650
43.48%
Eggs
$3.49 €3.05
$1.69 ₸794
106.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.33 €16.05
$9.49 ₸4,460
93.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.83 €8.61
$4.83 ₸2,269
103.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.13 €16.75
$6.98 ₸3,281
174.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 €2.39
$1.37 ₸643
99.27%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 €2.09
$1.84 ₸863
29.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.90 ₸895
9.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.75 €2.41
$1.88 ₸886
46.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 €1.72
$0.56 ₸262
250.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 €1.57
$0.37 ₸176
383.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 €1.29
$0.96 ₸449
54.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 €0.80
$0.74 ₸349
22.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13 €6.25
$1.90 ₸895
275.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.88 €6.90
$9.54 ₸4,482
-17.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.21
$0.97 ₸455
42.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 €2.09
$1.68 ₸789
42.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.01 €2.64
$0.23 ₸108
1208.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.35 €25.71
$14.80 ₸6,955
98.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.36 €3.82
$1.80 ₸844
142.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 €1.86
$0.71 ₸333
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.60 €25.93
$4.32 ₸2,028
585.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.60
$0.51 ₸239
256.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K €33.2K
$20.3K ₸9.5M
86.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K €28.4K
$25.2K ₸11.9M
28.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €166
$53.3 ₸25.0K
254.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29 €19.52
$8.34 ₸3,918
167.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16 €32.55
$13.70 ₸6,438
171.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 €50.8
$51.0 ₸24.0K
13.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66 €18.09
$10.96 ₸5,150
88.50%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87 €9.52
$5.22 ₸2,454
108.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 €618
$239 ₸112.3K
195.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K €13.0K
$4,800 ₸2.3M
209.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4 €78.3
$57.4 ₸27.0K
55.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60 €32.06
$35.08 ₸16.5K
4.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €91.1
$87.6 ₸41.2K
18.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €105
$87.7 ₸41.2K
36.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,579 €1,383
$467 ₸219.4K
238.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,238 €1,084
$323 ₸151.6K
283.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,712 €2,375
$860 ₸404.3K
215.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 €1,786
$587 ₸276.0K
247.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,527 €6,592
$1,409 ₸662.3K
434.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,239 €4,588
$1,013 ₸476.3K
416.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Astana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,364 €2,070
$845 ₸397.2K
179.69%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Astana: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,579 in Barcelona versus $467 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 180% 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 $70.0 in Barcelona versus $30.00 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $177 – 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 in Astana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona, $892 in Astana – roughly 160% apart. Barcelona costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Astana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,480 per month in Barcelona and $1,338 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 $706 per month in Barcelona and $239 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 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.
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 $892, than in Barcelona at $2,320. 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 $892 in Astana to $2,320 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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