😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,034 in Cuautitlan Izcalli.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,619 in Cuautitlan Izcalli.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,204 in Cuautitlan Izcalli.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 126% more expensive than Cuautitlan Izcalli, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Cuautitlan Izcalli is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$10.61MX$186
65.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$25.33MX$443
171.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$8.04MX$141
71.02%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$3.13MX$54.9
-11.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$1.58MX$27.64
75.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$1.16MX$20.34
76.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$2.33MX$40.70
97.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$4.90MX$85.7
-6.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.58MX$27.61
-18.99%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$2.59MX$45.32
-18.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.28MX$22.49
53.91%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$2.50MX$43.69
37.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$2.70MX$47.25
597.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$5.17MX$90.5
82.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$6.72MX$118
182.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$2.44MX$42.74
11.48%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$1.56MX$27.38
51.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$1.30MX$22.69
60.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$1.96MX$34.35
40.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$2.15MX$37.70
-8.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$2.25MX$39.32
-20.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$1.39MX$24.41
8.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$1.04MX$18.19
-13.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$4.14MX$72.5
63.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$10.44MX$183
-27.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.49MX$26.05
-3.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$3.68MX$64.4
-34.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$0.81MX$14.15
274.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$0.80MX$14.04
453.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$0.28MX$4.85
632.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$5.44MX$95.1
439.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.25MX$21.80
51.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$19.3KMX$337.4K
100.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$23.2KMX$405.3K
39.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$40.29MX$705
368.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$26.86MX$470
-17.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$18.35MX$321
100.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$36.54MX$639
58.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$16.12MX$282
30.21%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$4.34MX$76.0
154.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$426MX$7,450
70.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$3,583MX$62.7K
324.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$52.7MX$921
67.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$25.87MX$453
42.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$105MX$1,839
-2.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$52.2MX$913
128.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$507MX$8,865
201.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$390MX$6,828
212.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$951MX$16.6K
193.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$770MX$13.5K
163.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$1,953MX$34.2K
263.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$1,436MX$25.1K
237.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Cuautitlan Izcalli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
11.34
-70.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Cuautitlan Izcalli: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $507 in Cuautitlan Izcalli. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $25.00 in Cuautitlan Izcalli for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $212 per month, with Cuautitlan Izcalli 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 Cuautitlan Izcalli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Cuautitlan Izcalli?
Barcelona and Cuautitlan Izcalli differ by about 126% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,034 including rent). Cuautitlan Izcalli 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 Cuautitlan Izcalli?
You'd need roughly $3,512 in Barcelona and $1,552 in Cuautitlan Izcalli 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 Cuautitlan Izcalli?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $507 in Cuautitlan Izcalli. 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 Cuautitlan Izcalli?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $426 in Cuautitlan Izcalli. 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 Cuautitlan Izcalli – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,034 in Cuautitlan Izcalli versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cuautitlan Izcalli but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Cuautitlan Izcalli the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Cuautitlan Izcalli?
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 Cuautitlan Izcalli safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Cuautitlan Izcalli 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 Cuautitlan Izcalli?
Expats usually find Cuautitlan Izcalli gentler on the wallet – expenses run 126% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.