Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Bregenz

For one person, living is cheaper in Bregenz: $2,140 a month against $2,453 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Barcelona outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Barcelona, Spain
Bregenz, Austria
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,453
/mo nomad
Bregenz
🇦🇹 Austria
$2,140
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barcelona and in Bregenz

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Barcelona and in Bregenz actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,453 in Barcelona versus $2,140 in Bregenz.

  • Barcelona $2,453
  • Bregenz $2,140

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,509 in Barcelona versus $3,163 in Bregenz.

  • Barcelona $3,509
  • Bregenz $3,163

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,564 in Barcelona versus $4,187 in Bregenz.

  • Barcelona $4,564
  • Bregenz $4,187

Living in Barcelona is roughly 15% more expensive than in Bregenz, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 80% above, Bregenz 57% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Bregenz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.75
$20.31 €18.19
-13.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.5
$78.2 €70.0
-13.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.53 €12.12
$12.16 €10.89
11.27%
Cappuccino
$3.19 €2.86
$4.68 €4.19
-31.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.61
$4.14 €3.71
-29.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 €1.70
$3.72 €3.33
-49.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.01 €3.59
$5.70 €5.10
-29.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €4.06
$4.51 €4.04
0.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Bregenz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 €1.17
$1.72 €1.54
-23.84%
White Bread (500g)
$2.02 €1.81
$3.32 €2.97
-39.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 €1.66
$1.64 €1.47
12.80%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.33
$4.20 €3.76
15.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.74 €14.99
$16.04 €14.36
4.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.12 €8.17
$13.86 €12.42
-34.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.64 €17.59
$21.15 €18.94
-7.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 €2.67
$2.55 €2.28
16.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 €1.81
$1.80 €1.62
12.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 €2.42
$2.23 €1.99
21.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.80 €2.51
$3.71 €3.33
-24.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 €1.87
$1.79 €1.60
16.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.85
$1.30 €1.17
59.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 €1.31
$1.84 €1.65
-20.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.84
$0.27 €0.24
248.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.87 €6.15
$6.61 €5.92
3.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 €7.06
$7.98 €7.15
-1.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 €1.26
$1.41 €1.26
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 €2.27
$1.25 €1.12
103.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Bregenz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.14 €2.82
$2.84 €2.54
10.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.45 €22.79
$44.95 €40.26
-43.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 €2.68
$4.55 €4.07
-34.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 €1.34
$2.46 €2.20
-39.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.37 €29.89
$34.10 €30.54
-2.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 €1.61
$1.67 €1.49
7.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K €29.7K
$29.4K €26.3K
12.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K €28.4K
$33.2K €29.8K
-4.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Bregenz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 €162
$263 €236
-31.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.84 €12.39
$15.74 €14.10
-12.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.70 €30.18
$31.02 €27.78
8.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Bregenz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.5 €46.13
$67.9 €60.8
-24.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.96 €14.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.99 €9.85
$8.95 €8.02
22.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Bregenz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$917 €821
$867 €777
5.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.8K
$12.7K €11.4K
29.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Bregenz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.0 €77.9
$155 €139
-43.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51 €34.49
$16.52 €14.80
133.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 €94.8
$55.4 €49.59
91.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €107
$56.4 €50.6
112.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Bregenz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,699 €1,522
$1,028 €921
65.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,355 €1,214
$869 €779
55.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,603 €2,331
$1,669 €1,495
55.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 €1,847
$1,382 €1,237
49.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,915 €6,193
$7,064 €6,326
-2.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,128 €4,592
$5,702 €5,107
-10.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Bregenz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,211 €1,980
$2,814 €2,520
-21.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.28
3.57
-8.12%

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

Last update for Barcelona: October 25, 2026

Last update for Bregenz: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
$1.4K
Bregenz
$869 35.9% $486
Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
$322
Bregenz
$350 8.7% $28
Eating Out
Barcelona
$268
Bregenz
$324 21% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
$228
Bregenz
$310 36% $82
Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
$158
Bregenz
$128 19.2% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
$74
Bregenz
$86 16.7% $12
Getting Around
Barcelona
$48
Bregenz
$73 50.9% $25

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,699 in Barcelona and $1,028 in Bregenz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bregenz pays 27% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $67 in Barcelona vs $78 in Bregenz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $322 vs $350 per month, with Barcelona cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🇦🇹 Bregenz
🕒 Local time
12:05 12:05 PM
12:05 12:05 PM
Same time as Barcelona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,660,122
29,620
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barcelona Bregenz 910 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Barcelona
  • Bregenz

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bregenz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Bregenz?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,453 in Barcelona and $2,140 in Bregenz, so Bregenz is about 13% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 21% lower in Barcelona. 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 Bregenz?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,699 in Barcelona versus $1,028 in Bregenz. 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 Bregenz?
Childcare runs $917 in Barcelona versus $867 in Bregenz. 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 8% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How far does $3,000 go in Barcelona compared to Bregenz?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Bregenz gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Bregenz?
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 Bregenz safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Bregenz are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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