Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Badalona Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Badalona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,434 per month in Barcelona vs $1,666 in Badalona, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,473 per month in Barcelona vs $3,245 in Badalona, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,512 per month in Barcelona vs $4,823 in Badalona, rent included.

Barcelona costs about 46% more than Badalona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Barcelona and Badalona sit above the global median – Barcelona by 78%, Badalona by 22%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Badalona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.80 €16.09
$17.44 €14.92
7.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5 €59.4
$56.6 €48.42
22.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.08 €12.05
$11.43 €9.78
23.18%
Cappuccino
$3.12 €2.66
$2.47 €2.11
26.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.49
$2.73 €2.34
6.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 €1.60
$1.89 €1.61
-1.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.00 €3.42
$3.47 €2.97
15.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.64 €3.97
$4.57 €3.90
1.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Badalona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 €1.02
$1.18 €1.01
0.85%
White Bread (500g)
$2.13 €1.82
$2.20 €1.88
-3.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 €1.57
$1.86 €1.59
-1.08%
Eggs
$5.13 €4.39
$3.06 €2.62
67.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.39 €14.02
$14.97 €12.81
9.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.71 €8.31
$9.23 €7.90
5.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.65 €16.81
$15.35 €13.13
28.01%
Apples (1kg)
$3.13 €2.68
$2.59 €2.22
20.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 €1.87
$2.03 €1.73
7.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.46 €2.11
$1.62 €1.39
51.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.77 €2.37
$2.47 €2.11
12.15%
Potato (1kg)
$2.12 €1.82
$1.86 €1.59
13.98%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 €1.90
$1.90 €1.63
17.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.27
$1.56 €1.34
-4.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 €0.78
$0.60 €0.51
51.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.26 €6.21
$7.08 €6.05
2.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.29 €7.09
$5.90 €5.05
40.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 €1.32
$1.04 €0.89
48.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 €2.30
$2.50 €2.14
7.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Badalona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.07 €2.63
$1.70 €1.45
80.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.93 €22.18
$46.28 €39.59
-43.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 €2.86
$3.41 €2.91
-2.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 €1.61
$1.80 €1.54
4.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.98 €29.92
$14.85 €12.70
135.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.70 €1.45
2.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K €31.2K
$35.7K €30.5K
2.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K €27.0K
$31.4K €26.9K
0.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Badalona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 €156
$120 €103
52.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.70 €13.43
$16.13 €13.79
-2.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.73 €31.42
$25.67 €21.96
43.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Badalona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.5 €45.76
$60.4 €51.6
-11.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.13 €14.65
$16.22 €13.88
5.61%
Cinema Ticket
$11.51 €9.85
$9.32 €7.97
23.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Badalona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$952 €815
$572 €490
66.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K €13.8K
$10.3K €8,797
57.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Badalona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.5 €70.5
$64.4 €55.1
28.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.47 €34.62
$21.58 €18.46
87.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 €92.2
$110 €93.8
-1.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €107
$124 €106
1.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Badalona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,668 €1,426
$1,395 €1,193
19.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,288 €1,101
$714 €610
80.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,663 €2,278
$1,367 €1,169
94.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,904 €1,628
$2,551 €2,183
-25.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,513 €6,427
$3,427 €2,931
119.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,178 €4,429
$2,211 €1,891
134.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Badalona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,451 €2,096
$2,072 €1,772
18.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.12
3.3
-5.45%

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

Last update for Barcelona: August 17, 2026

Last update for Badalona: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,668 in Barcelona versus $1,395 in Badalona. 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 18% 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 $69.0 in Barcelona versus $57.0 in Badalona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $328 vs $279 – making Badalona 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 Badalona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Barcelona and in Badalona compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,434 in Barcelona, $1,666 in Badalona – roughly 46% apart. Barcelona costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Badalona?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,651 per month in Barcelona and $2,499 in Badalona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Barcelona and Badalona?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Badalona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Barcelona or Badalona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,434 in Barcelona and $1,666 in Badalona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Barcelona and in Badalona?
Public transport costs about 78% less in Badalona. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Badalona, where all-in costs run around $1,666, than in Barcelona at $2,434. In Badalona 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 Badalona?
It depends on your priorities. Barcelona has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,666 in Badalona to $2,434 in Barcelona. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Barcelona or Badalona 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 Badalona?
If budget matters most, go with Badalona. 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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