😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,182 in Dabas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,726 in Dabas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,269 in Dabas.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 98% more expensive than Dabas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Dabas is 12% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.04
$8.60Ft 2,673
104.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.7
$35.09Ft 10.9K
95.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.74
$8.60Ft 2,673
59.88%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$1.47Ft 457
87.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$1.11Ft 344
150.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.45Ft 139
355.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.93
$1.53Ft 477
201.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.92
$1.40Ft 434
227.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.09
$1.11Ft 344
15.32%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.80
$1.41Ft 438
49.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.84Ft 573
7.07%
Eggs
$3.44€2.94
$2.44Ft 759
40.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.08
$9.11Ft 2,833
106.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.07
$5.83Ft 1,812
62.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.24
$14.11Ft 4,385
34.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.32
$2.02Ft 629
34.65%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$2.02Ft 628
17.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.77
$2.10Ft 652
-0.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$3.60Ft 1,120
-23.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.22Ft 379
61.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.24Ft 385
44.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$1.78Ft 553
-15.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.58Ft 182
55.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.77
$7.41Ft 2,302
-8.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.44
$4.92Ft 1,529
53.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.22Ft 380
18.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$2.04Ft 633
18.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$1.16Ft 361
161.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.25
$25.24Ft 7,846
12.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.78
$3.24Ft 1,008
36.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.75
$1.07Ft 331
91.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.05
$22.76Ft 7,074
28.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.61
$1.45Ft 451
30.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.1K
$27.2KFt 8.5M
42.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.6K
$31.3KFt 9.7M
3.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$165Ft 51.4K
14.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€18.96
$27.51Ft 8,551
-19.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.44
$19.74Ft 6,137
86.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.52
$46.08Ft 14.3K
25.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.93
$16.49Ft 5,127
27.29%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.44
$7.68Ft 2,388
43.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€620
$401Ft 124.8K
81.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$7,125Ft 2.2M
113.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.4
$90.6Ft 28.2K
-2.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.58
$44.20Ft 13.7K
-16.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.6
$92.3Ft 28.7K
11.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$103Ft 31.9K
16.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,304
$448Ft 139.4K
240.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,040
$339Ft 105.3K
259.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,386
$643Ft 200.0K
334.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,731
$522Ft 162.4K
288.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,058
$2,999Ft 932.2K
136.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,141
$2,142Ft 665.9K
126.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Dabas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,053
-
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Dabas: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $448 in Dabas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $35.00 in Dabas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $230 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 Dabas?
Barcelona and Dabas differ by about 98% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,182 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 $3,512 in Barcelona and $1,773 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 Dabas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $448 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 $726 in Barcelona versus $401 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 39% 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 $1,182 in Dabas versus $2,341 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 98% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.