😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $2,135 in Derby.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $3,223 in Derby.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $4,311 in Derby.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 10% more expensive than Derby, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona75% above, Derby59% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Derby
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$24.83£18.40
-29.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$80.9£59.9
-15.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$10.82£8.02
27.08%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$4.89£3.62
-43.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$2.33£1.72
19.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$1.58£1.17
29.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$6.38£4.73
-27.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$5.46£4.04
-15.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Derby
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.47£1.09
-12.93%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$1.41£1.05
49.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$2.46£1.82
-19.92%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$3.94£2.92
-12.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$9.14£6.78
106.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$8.71£6.46
8.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$13.34£9.88
42.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$4.61£3.41
-41.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$2.71£2.01
-12.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$2.95£2.19
-29.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$3.04£2.25
-9.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$0.98£0.72
101.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.68£1.25
6.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$1.13£0.83
33.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$1.43£1.06
-37.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$19.01£14.08
-64.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$9.64£7.14
-21.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$2.63£1.95
-45.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$3.21£2.38
-24.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Derby
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$2.67£1.98
13.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$94.1£69.8
-69.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$4.62£3.42
-4.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$1.57£1.17
30.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$24.88£18.44
17.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.98£1.47
-4.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$37.8K£28.0K
2.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$41.2K£30.5K
-21.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Derby
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$351£260
-46.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$15.46£11.46
43.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$46.58£34.52
-20.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Derby
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$45.10£33.42
28.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$25.32£18.77
-17.10%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$15.78£11.69
-29.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Derby
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$1,836£1,361
-60.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$20.8K£15.4K
-26.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Derby
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$120£88.7
-26.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$58.8£43.55
-37.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$80.6£59.7
27.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$99.3£73.6
20.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Derby
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$790£585
93.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$741£549
64.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$1,478£1,096
89.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$1,338£991
51.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$5,769£4,275
22.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$3,238£2,399
49.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Derby
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$3,801£2,817
-36.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.56
-39.03%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Derby: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $790 in Derby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Derby pays 58% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $81.0 in Derby. Groceries flip the comparison at $320 vs $299, with Derby cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Barcelona vs Derby: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Derby?
Barcelona and Derby differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $2,135 including rent). Derby is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Derby earns 58% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Derby?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $790 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 $726 in Barcelona versus $1,836 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 7% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,135 in Derby versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Derby but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Derby the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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 Derby gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Barcelona vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado