😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $781 in Crato.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $1,240 in Crato.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $1,699 in Crato.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 202% more expensive than in Crato, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Crato is 41% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Crato
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$5.53R$28.07
210.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$27.17R$138
150.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$6.20R$31.46
120.00%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$1.77R$8.98
57.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$1.07R$5.45
163.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.67R$3.39
192.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$1.82R$9.21
143.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$2.73R$13.85
68.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Crato
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$1.00R$5.10
27.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$1.52R$7.70
40.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$1.13R$5.75
76.11%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$1.97R$9.98
71.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$8.35R$42.37
127.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$3.72R$18.85
156.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$7.15R$36.26
161.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$2.04R$10.37
29.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$1.30R$6.60
80.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.20R$6.10
74.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$1.51R$7.64
80.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$1.20R$6.07
63.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.11R$5.64
63.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$0.69R$3.50
118.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.62R$3.13
43.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$2.14R$10.87
216.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$8.43R$42.77
-6.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.22R$6.17
12.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$2.00R$10.13
20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Crato
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$0.87R$4.39
234.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$39.15R$199
-26.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$1.09R$5.54
320.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$0.74R$3.76
175.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$6.25R$31.73
359.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$1.07R$5.44
70.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$20.4KR$103.6K
92.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$28.1KR$142.4K
15.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Crato
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$59.5R$302
213.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$13.56R$68.8
64.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$18.82R$95.5
93.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Crato
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$22.35R$113
157.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
$21.43R$109
-3.22%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$6.43R$32.63
67.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Crato
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$274R$1,389
164.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$6,561R$33.3K
130.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Crato
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$48.96R$248
79.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$42.04R$213
-12.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$76.5R$388
35.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$65.7R$333
80.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Crato
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$310R$1,575
390.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$213R$1,082
475.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$588R$2,983
363.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$425R$2,156
366.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$1,686R$8,558
342.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$1,224R$6,213
328.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Crato
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
10.92
-68.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Crato: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $310 in Crato. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $27.00 in Crato for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $176 per month, with Crato 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 Crato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Crato?
Barcelona and Crato differ by about 202% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $781 including rent). Crato 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 Crato?
You'd need roughly $3,539 in Barcelona and $1,172 in Crato 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 Crato?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $310 in Crato. 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 Crato?
Childcare runs $725 in Barcelona versus $274 in Crato. 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 82% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $781 in Crato versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Crato but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Crato the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Crato?
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 Crato safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Crato 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 Crato?
Expats usually find Crato gentler on the wallet – expenses run 202% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.