Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Derby Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Derby

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,482 in Barcelona versus $2,641 in Derby.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in Barcelona versus $3,719 in Derby.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $4,797 in Derby.

Living in Barcelona costs roughly 6% less than in Derby, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 80% above, Derby 91% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Derby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42 €15.88
$17.62 A$24.56
4.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4 €59.8
$84.4 A$118
-17.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.05 €12.11
$10.94 A$15.26
28.43%
Cappuccino
$3.11 €2.68
$4.08 A$5.69
-23.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 €2.55
$2.99 A$4.17
-1.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 €1.69
$2.26 A$3.16
-13.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.99 €3.44
$7.87 A$10.97
-49.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62 €3.98
$7.58 A$10.57
-39.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Derby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 €1.14
$1.65 A$2.30
-20.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 €1.82
$2.84 A$3.95
-25.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$2.34 A$3.27
-21.79%
Eggs
$5.16 €4.45
$4.92 A$6.86
4.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.56 €15.14
$9.41 A$13.12
86.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.50 €8.19
$9.37 A$13.07
1.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.93 €17.18
$15.29 A$21.32
30.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.17 €2.73
$3.72 A$5.19
-14.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 €1.91
$3.15 A$4.39
-29.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 €2.25
$3.33 A$4.65
-21.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.85 €2.46
$4.90 A$6.83
-41.84%
Potato (1kg)
$2.17 €1.87
$2.62 A$3.65
-17.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.81
$2.46 A$3.44
-14.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 €1.39
$2.51 A$3.50
-35.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.76
$1.64 A$2.28
-46.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17 €6.18
$39.79 A$55.5
-81.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.33 €7.18
$14.30 A$19.94
-41.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$5.24 A$7.30
-71.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 €2.37
$5.24 A$7.31
-47.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Derby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.14 €2.70
$3.09 A$4.31
1.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.25 €22.63
$86.6 A$121
-69.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.22 €2.78
$3.66 A$5.10
-12.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 €1.30
$1.61 A$2.24
-6.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.26 €30.39
$40.68 A$56.7
-13.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.29 A$1.80
35.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K €31.6K
$28.3K A$39.5K
29.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K €27.3K
$30.9K A$43.0K
2.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Derby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 €161
$217 A$302
-13.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10 €13.01
$28.21 A$39.33
-46.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.60 €32.41
$57.8 A$80.6
-34.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Derby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.5 €47.83
$56.4 A$78.7
-1.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.74 €14.43
$18.68 A$26.04
-10.39%
Cinema Ticket
$11.71 €10.09
$15.81 A$22.04
-25.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Derby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,011 €871
$2,223 A$3,099
-54.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.1K €14.7K
$21.1K A$29.4K
-19.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Derby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4 €78.8
$77.5 A$108
17.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00 €35.34
$55.2 A$77.0
-25.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 €95.3
$113 A$158
-2.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 €109
$125 A$175
0.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Derby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,704 €1,469
$1,459 A$2,033
16.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,299 €1,120
$1,291 A$1,799
0.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,588 €2,231
$2,293 A$3,197
12.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,929 €1,663
$1,848 A$2,576
4.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,732 €6,665
$6,749 A$9,410
14.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,384 €4,641
$5,167 A$7,203
4.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Derby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,374 €2,046
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.16
5.85
-45.98%

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

Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026

Last update for Derby: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Barcelona and $1,459 in Derby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $84.0 in Derby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $378 per month, with Barcelona 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 Derby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Derby?
Barcelona and Derby differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($2,482 vs $2,641 including rent). Barcelona 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 Derby?
You'd need roughly $3,724 in Barcelona and $3,961 in Derby 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 Derby?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,704 in Barcelona versus $1,459 in Derby. 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 Derby?
Childcare runs $1,011 in Barcelona versus $2,223 in Derby. 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 13% higher in Derby. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Barcelona is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Derby?
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 Derby safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Derby 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 Derby?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Derby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Barcelona vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities