😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,441 in Barcelona versus $2,279 in Belleville, IL.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,477 in Barcelona versus $3,459 in Belleville, IL.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,513 in Barcelona versus $4,639 in Belleville, IL.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 7% more expensive than in Belleville, IL, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona81% above, Belleville, IL69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Belleville, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.35€16.30
$17.98$17.98
2.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.9€59.4
$65.7$65.7
1.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€12.21
$9.24$9.24
48.81%
Cappuccino
$3.17€2.81
$4.79$4.79
-33.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88€2.55
$2.28$2.28
26.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.73
$1.69$1.69
15.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.89€3.45
$4.59$4.59
-15.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50€3.99
$4.87$4.87
-7.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Belleville, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.14
$1.09$1.09
17.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.07€1.84
$2.42$2.42
-14.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79€1.59
$3.34$3.34
-46.41%
Eggs
$5.04€4.48
$3.82$3.82
31.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.29€15.36
$11.92$11.92
45.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.41€8.36
$10.58$10.58
-11.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.40€17.23
$14.90$14.90
30.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18€2.82
$7.00$7.00
-54.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09€1.86
$2.41$2.41
-13.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64€2.35
$4.36$4.36
-39.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.83€2.52
$4.53$4.53
-37.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.20€1.96
$2.24$2.24
-1.79%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.90
$2.54$2.54
-15.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59€1.42
$1.75$1.75
-9.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93€0.83
$2.68$2.68
-65.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.25€6.44
$7.89$7.89
-8.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.00€7.11
$14.94$14.94
-46.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.31
$2.07$2.07
-28.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77€2.46
$3.12$3.12
-11.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Belleville, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94€2.61
$0.98$0.98
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.97€23.07
$79.4$79.4
-67.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.06€2.72
$4.42$4.42
-30.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.34
$2.45$2.45
-38.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.08€30.28
$17.76$17.76
91.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71€1.52
$1.01$1.01
69.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K€32.2K
$36.8K$36.8K
-1.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K€27.2K
$24.5K$24.5K
24.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Belleville, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183€163
$240$240
-23.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.76€13.11
$70.9$70.9
-79.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.68€32.58
$76.3$76.3
-51.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Belleville, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8€49.60
$35.63$35.63
56.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.50€14.66
$29.95$29.95
-44.91%
Cinema Ticket
$11.30€10.03
$13.78$13.78
-18.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Belleville, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$983€873
$1,036$1,036
-5.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.7K€14.8K
$12.8K$12.8K
30.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Belleville, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.9€81.7
$58.7$58.7
56.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.15€35.66
$32.63$32.63
23.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€96.3
$88.9$88.9
22.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€109
$97.7$97.7
25.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Belleville, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,689€1,500
$1,292$1,292
30.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,323€1,175
$952$952
38.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,617€2,325
$2,088$2,088
25.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,924€1,709
$1,674$1,674
14.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,336€6,517
$2,400$2,400
205.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,253€4,666
$1,899$1,899
176.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Belleville, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,313€2,055
$6,235$6,235
-62.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
6.36
-50.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 27, 2026
Last update for Belleville, IL: September 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,689 in Barcelona and $1,292 in Belleville, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Belleville, IL pays 170% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Barcelona vs $66.0 in Belleville, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $328 vs $384, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.
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 Belleville, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Belleville, IL?
Barcelona and Belleville, IL differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($2,441 vs $2,279 including rent). Belleville, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 170% lower in Belleville, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Belleville, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,689 in Barcelona versus $1,292 in Belleville, IL. 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 Belleville, IL?
Childcare runs $983 in Barcelona versus $1,036 in Belleville, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 17% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,279 in Belleville, IL versus $2,441 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Belleville, IL but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Belleville, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Belleville, IL?
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 Belleville, IL safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Belleville, IL 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 Belleville, IL?
Expats usually find Belleville, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.