Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Des Moines, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Des Moines, IA

🙂 Solo nomad: Barcelona is 17.6% cheaper than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 10.8% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Barcelona is 11.8% cheaper than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 7.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.41 €15.03
$15.83 $15.83
9.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7 €59.3
$79.4 $79.4
-13.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.71 €11.84
$12.17 $12.17
12.65%
Cappuccino
$2.78 €2.4
$4.78 $4.78
-41.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.8 €2.42
$2.32 $2.32
20.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 €1.71
$1.93 $1.93
2.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.43 €3.83
$4.86 $4.86
-8.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €3.91
$6.97 $6.97
-35.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.07
$0.97 $0.97
27.84%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 €1.75
$2.57 $2.57
-21.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 €1.71
$2.26 $2.26
-12.39%
Eggs
$3.46 €2.99
$3.72 $3.72
-6.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.32 €15.82
$12.89 $12.89
42.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.82 €8.47
$10.58 $10.58
-7.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.24 €16.61
$12.82 $12.82
50.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 €2.25
$4.33 $4.33
-39.72%
Banana (1kg)
$2.34 €2.02
$1.44 $1.44
62.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$3.75 $3.75
-43.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.77 €2.39
$3.61 $3.61
-23.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 €1.76
$1.66 $1.66
22.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 €1.53
$2.97 $2.97
-40.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.5 €1.3
$2.29 $2.29
-34.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$1.08 $1.08
-21.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7 €6.04
$7.17 $7.17
-2.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.13 €6.16
$13.95 $13.95
-48.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 €1.24
$1.78 $1.78
-19.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €1.98
$4.11 $4.11
-44.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Des Moines, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.02 €2.6
$1.7 $1.7
77.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.97 €25.01
$57 $57
-49.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.59 €3.96
$1.94 $1.94
136.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 €1.74
$1.23 $1.23
64.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.56 €25.53
$19.71 $19.71
49.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 €1.56
$0.81 $0.81
123.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K €33.1K
$25.7K $25.7K
49.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K €28K
$24.9K $24.9K
30.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 €164
$145 $145
30.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.18 €19.15
$52.1 $52.1
-57.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37 €31.4
$54.2 $54.2
-32.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.4 €49.55
$66.1 $66.1
-13.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.95 €18.09
$20.16 $20.16
3.92%
Cinema Ticket
$10.8 €9.33
$15.29 $15.29
-29.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$732 €632
$1,380 $1,380
-46.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K €13.1K
$12K $12K
26.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.8 €74.9
$53 $53
63.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.78 €31.76
$42.04 $42.04
-12.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €88.2
$74 $74
38.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 €101
$127 $127
-7.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Des Moines, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,581 €1,365
$1,226 $1,226
28.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,230 €1,062
$896 $896
37.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,707 €2,337
$1,740 $1,740
55.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 €1,751
$1,494 $1,494
35.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,602 €5,700
$2,284 $2,284
188.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,045 €4,356
$2,291 $2,291
120.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,198 €1,898
$3,655 $3,655
-39.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
6.5
-47.85%

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

Last update for Barcelona: October 28, 2025

Last update for Des Moines, IA: October 28, 2025

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