🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $3,453 in Beacon, NY.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $4,867 in Beacon, NY.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $6,281 in Beacon, NY.
🌍Living in Barcelona costs roughly 28% less than in Beacon, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona81% above, Beacon, NY152% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Beacon, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$19.23$19.23
-2.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$80.2$80.2
-13.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$11.03$11.03
24.84%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$5.26$5.26
-41.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$2.24$2.24
26.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$1.54$1.54
22.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$6.09$6.09
-34.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$4.95$4.95
-8.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Beacon, NY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.32$1.32
-3.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$3.57$3.57
-39.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$4.77$4.77
-63.10%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$5.98$5.98
-14.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$12.50$12.50
43.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$11.90$11.90
-18.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$17.06$17.06
18.11%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$4.74$4.74
-31.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$1.77$1.77
25.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$4.39$4.39
-40.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$4.87$4.87
-43.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$4.21$4.21
-47.51%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$3.41$3.41
-37.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$2.81$2.81
-44.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$2.19$2.19
-56.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$11.47$11.47
-36.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$15.23$15.23
-47.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$1.69$1.69
-8.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$2.96$2.96
-5.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Beacon, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
$199$199
-86.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$3.04$3.04
7.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$2.10$2.10
-29.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$24.03$24.03
42.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$1.07$1.07
61.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$30.1K$30.1K
20.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$25.0K$25.0K
22.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Beacon, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$217$217
-13.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$73.0$73.0
-79.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$65.9$65.9
-42.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Beacon, NY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$88.3$88.3
-36.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$12.08$12.08
-5.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Beacon, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$1,227$1,227
-18.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$24.0K$24.0K
-31.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Beacon, NY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$37.85$37.85
144.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$56.9$56.9
-27.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$77.0$77.0
44.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$147$147
-15.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Beacon, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$2,282$2,282
-25.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$1,854$1,854
-30.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$3,439$3,439
-25.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$2,912$2,912
-33.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
$4,426$4,426
72.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
$2,994$2,994
72.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Beacon, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
6.22
-49.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Beacon, NY: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $2,282 in Beacon, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $80.0 in Beacon, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $418 per month, with Barcelona cheaper across the board.
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 Beacon, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Beacon, NY?
Barcelona and Beacon, NY differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $3,453 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Beacon, NY?
You'd need roughly $3,714 in Barcelona and $5,179 in Beacon, NY to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Beacon, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $2,282 in Beacon, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Beacon, NY?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $1,227 in Beacon, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Beacon, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Barcelona is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Beacon, NY?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Beacon, NY safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Beacon, NY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Beacon, NY?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Beacon, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.