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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,399 per month in Barcelona vs $2,454 in Badalona, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,496 per month in Barcelona vs $2,930 in Badalona, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,592 per month in Barcelona vs $3,406 in Badalona, rent included.

Barcelona is about 2% cheaper than Badalona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Barcelona and Badalona sit above the global median – Barcelona by 80%, Badalona by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.68 €15.22

$17.65 €15.20

0.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.1 €60.3

$58.3 €50.2

20.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.66 €11.76

$11.36 €9.78

20.25%

Cappuccino

$2.74 €2.36

$2.61 €2.25

4.98%

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

$2.79 €2.40

$2.68 €2.31

4.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 €1.69

$2.02 €1.74

-2.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.36 €3.76

$3.55 €3.05

22.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 €3.94

$4.65 €4.00

-1.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 €1.11

$1.21 €1.05

6.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.05 €1.77

$2.06 €1.78

-0.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 €1.71

$1.66 €1.43

19.28%

Eggs

$3.39 €2.92

$2.97 €2.56

14.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.64 €16.05

$14.46 €12.45

28.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.56 €8.23

$9.02 €7.77

5.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.83 €16.22

$17.60 €15.15

6.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 €2.37

$2.61 €2.25

5.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 €2.13

$2.96 €2.55

-16.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 €1.80

$2.13 €1.83

-1.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.82 €2.43

$2.83 €2.44

-0.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 €1.74

$1.44 €1.24

40.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 €1.59

$1.42 €1.22

30.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 €1.30

$1.47 €1.27

2.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 €0.77

$0.70 €0.60

28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.06 €6.08

$6.32 €5.44

11.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.98 €6.87

$5.63 €4.85

41.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 €1.23

$1.52 €1.31

-5.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 €1.97

$2.02 €1.74

13.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 €2.48

$2.79 €2.40

3.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.39 €24.45

$46.60 €40.13

-39.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.38 €3.77

$4.12 €3.54

6.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 €1.84

$2.10 €1.81

1.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.15 €25.10

$22.52 €19.39

29.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.86 €1.61

$1.80 €1.55

3.33%

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

$39.0K €33.6K

$37.9K €32.6K

2.96%

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

$32.7K €28.2K

$30.3K €26.1K

7.91%

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

$189 €163

$148 €127

27.95%

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

$22.71 €19.56

$19.89 €17.13

14.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.51 €31.43

$37.65 €32.42

-3.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.6 €49.59

$51.2 €44.06

12.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.37 €18.40

$34.97 €30.12

-38.89%

Cinema Ticket

$10.81 €9.31

$9.23 €7.95

17.12%

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

$726 €625

$325 €279

123.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K €13.0K

$6,950 €5,985

117.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.7 €75.5

$96.1 €82.8

-8.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.89 €31.77

$37.78 €32.53

-2.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 €89.2

$106 €90.9

-1.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 €100

$117 €101

-0.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,573 €1,355

$1,730 €1,489

-9.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,220 €1,050

$1,456 €1,254

-16.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,711 €2,335

$2,333 €2,009

16.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,966 €1,693

$1,014 €873

93.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,811 €6,726

$3,143 €2,706

148.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,267 €4,535

$2,220 €1,912

137.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,375 €2,045

$2,009 €1,730

18.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.39

3.5

-3.14%

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

Last update for Barcelona: June 14, 2026

Last update for Badalona: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,573 in Barcelona versus $1,730 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 reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Barcelona versus $58.0 in Badalona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $321 vs $290 – 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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona, $2,454 in Badalona – roughly 2% apart. Badalona costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,599 per month in Barcelona and $3,681 in Badalona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Barcelona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,399 in Barcelona and $2,454 in Badalona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 64% less in Barcelona. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,399 in Barcelona and $2,454 in Badalona. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Barcelona has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,399 in Barcelona to $2,454 in Badalona. 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 Barcelona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Badalona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.