😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $1,179 in Dabas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $1,736 in Dabas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $2,294 in Dabas.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 100% more expensive than in Dabas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Dabas is 11% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$8.80Ft 2,773
94.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$33.90Ft 10.7K
100.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$8.68Ft 2,735
57.14%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$1.40Ft 440
98.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$1.15Ft 361
145.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.45Ft 141
335.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$1.54Ft 484
187.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$1.45Ft 458
217.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$1.07Ft 337
18.69%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$1.40Ft 442
52.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$1.88Ft 591
5.85%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$2.44Ft 769
38.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$9.39Ft 2,958
101.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$6.15Ft 1,937
54.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$14.43Ft 4,547
29.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$2.01Ft 633
31.84%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$2.08Ft 655
12.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$2.20Ft 692
-5.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$3.56Ft 1,120
-23.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$1.22Ft 384
60.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.23Ft 388
47.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$1.77Ft 559
-14.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.54Ft 169
64.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$7.30Ft 2,300
-7.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$4.76Ft 1,501
66.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.22Ft 386
12.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$2.03Ft 640
18.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$1.13Ft 356
157.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$25.17Ft 7,930
13.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$3.14Ft 990
45.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$1.06Ft 335
92.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$22.84Ft 7,196
25.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$1.40Ft 441
30.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$27.3KFt 8.6M
44.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$31.9KFt 10.0M
1.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$164Ft 51.5K
14.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$27.10Ft 8,539
-17.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$19.77Ft 6,230
83.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$45.94Ft 14.5K
25.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
$16.58Ft 5,225
25.09%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$7.70Ft 2,426
39.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$405Ft 127.5K
79.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$7,264Ft 2.3M
108.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$92.5Ft 29.1K
-4.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$44.93Ft 14.2K
-18.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$93.1Ft 29.3K
11.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$101Ft 31.7K
17.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$439Ft 138.2K
247.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$344Ft 108.4K
256.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$638Ft 201.2K
327.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$525Ft 165.3K
278.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$3,519Ft 1.1M
112.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$2,383Ft 750.8K
120.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
8
-57.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Dabas: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $439 in Dabas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $34.00 in Dabas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $233 per month, with Dabas 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 Dabas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Dabas?
Barcelona and Dabas differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $1,179 including rent). Dabas 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 Dabas?
You'd need roughly $3,539 in Barcelona and $1,768 in Dabas 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 Dabas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $439 in Dabas. 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 Dabas?
Childcare runs $725 in Barcelona versus $405 in Dabas. 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 37% 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 $1,179 in Dabas versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Dabas but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Dabas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Dabas?
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 Dabas safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Dabas 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 Dabas?
Expats usually find Dabas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.