🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $2,488 in Brecon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $3,656 in Brecon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $4,824 in Brecon.
🌍Monthly costs are close between Barcelona and Brecon; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona81% above, Brecon82% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Brecon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.31
$21.39£15.97
-12.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.5
$113£84.1
-38.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€11.98
$10.80£8.06
27.50%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$5.14£3.83
-39.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.46
$2.71£2.02
4.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$1.96£1.47
-4.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$8.21£6.13
-51.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.94
$6.88£5.13
-34.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Brecon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.53£1.14
-16.99%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$1.74£1.30
24.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$2.10£1.57
-16.19%
Eggs
$5.13€4.46
$4.49£3.35
14.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.56
$8.20£6.12
118.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.40
$10.03£7.49
-3.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.54
$14.74£11.00
36.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.83
$3.23£2.41
0.62%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$1.75£1.31
27.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.26
$2.73£2.04
-4.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$4.16£3.11
-33.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.92
$2.10£1.57
5.24%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.84
$1.49£1.11
42.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$1.22£0.91
27.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$2.04£1.53
-53.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.39
$23.70£17.70
-69.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.00
$10.74£8.02
-25.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.34
$2.91£2.17
-47.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$3.61£2.70
-22.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Brecon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.70
$3.58£2.67
-13.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.51
$95.7£71.5
-72.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$3.46£2.58
-5.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$1.74£1.30
-14.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.83
$27.42£20.48
24.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.50
$2.07£1.54
-16.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$39.0K£29.1K
-6.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$41.3K£30.9K
-26.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Brecon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$327£244
-42.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.18
$17.09£12.76
-11.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.80
$39.03£29.15
-3.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Brecon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.68
$47.07£35.15
18.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.93
$14.06£10.50
-18.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Brecon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€867
$2,297£1,715
-56.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$25.7K£19.2K
-35.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Brecon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.6
$104£77.7
-10.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.88
$48.58£36.27
-15.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.8
$111£83.0
0.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$98.7£73.7
26.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Brecon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,486
$1,224£914
39.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,119
$1,037£774
24.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,233
$2,105£1,572
21.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,690
$1,663£1,241
16.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,655
$5,189£3,874
47.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,497
$4,022£3,003
28.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Brecon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,044
$3,656£2,730
-35.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
4.87
-35.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Brecon: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $1,224 in Brecon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brecon pays 56% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $113 in Brecon. Groceries flip the comparison at $336 vs $318, with Brecon 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 Brecon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 56% lower in Brecon. 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 Brecon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $1,224 in Brecon. 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 Brecon?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $2,297 in Brecon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Barcelona – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $113 in Brecon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,476 in Barcelona versus $2,488 in Brecon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Brecon. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Brecon?
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 Brecon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Brecon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
How do I decide between Barcelona and Brecon?
It comes down to priorities – Barcelona wins on affordability, Brecon on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.