😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $2,369 in Garland, TX.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $3,421 in Garland, TX.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $4,473 in Garland, TX.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 5% more expensive than in Garland, TX, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona81% above, Garland, TX73% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Garland, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$11.91$11.91
57.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$34.37$34.37
102.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$9.18$9.18
50.00%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$3.18$3.18
-2.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$1.73$1.73
63.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$2.39$2.39
-21.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$8.06$8.06
-50.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$8.79$8.79
-48.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Garland, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.11$1.11
14.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$3.63$3.63
-40.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$3.38$3.38
-47.93%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$4.17$4.17
23.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$7.82$7.82
128.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$6.94$6.94
39.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$9.60$9.60
109.90%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$4.48$4.48
-27.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$1.24$1.24
79.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$4.51$4.51
-42.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$4.36$4.36
-36.70%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$2.08$2.08
6.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$2.15$2.15
-1.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$1.85$1.85
-16.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$1.39$1.39
-31.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$9.96$9.96
-26.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$10.78$10.78
-25.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$2.89$2.89
-46.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$3.30$3.30
-15.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Garland, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$3.03$3.03
2.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
$97.7$97.7
-73.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$2.71$2.71
20.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$1.59$1.59
-6.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$34.52$34.52
-0.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$0.79$0.79
118.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$36.1K$36.1K
0.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$27.2K$27.2K
12.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Garland, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$172$172
8.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$55.9$55.9
-72.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$69.3$69.3
-45.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Garland, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$39.78$39.78
40.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
$16.70$16.70
2.28%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$14.14$14.14
-19.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Garland, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$1,519$1,519
-34.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$21.2K$21.2K
-22.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Garland, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$46.47$46.47
99.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$29.47$29.47
39.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$78.4$78.4
41.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$103$103
21.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Garland, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$1,518$1,518
12.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$1,253$1,253
2.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$2,329$2,329
10.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$2,061$2,061
-5.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
$3,241$3,241
135.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
$1,927$1,927
168.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Garland, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
$3,777$3,777
-37.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
6.47
-51.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Garland, TX: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $1,518 in Garland, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Garland, TX pays 61% 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 $34.00 in Garland, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $311 per month, with Garland, TX 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 Garland, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Garland, TX?
Barcelona and Garland, TX differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $2,369 including rent). Garland, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 61% lower in Garland, TX. 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 in Garland, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $1,518 in Garland, TX. 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 Garland, TX?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $1,519 in Garland, TX. 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 8% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,369 in Garland, TX versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Garland, TX but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Garland, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Garland, TX?
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 Garland, TX safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Garland, TX 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 Garland, TX?
Expats usually find Garland, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.