Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and George Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and George Town

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $4,853 in George Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $7,433 in George Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $10.0K in George Town.

Living in Barcelona costs roughly 49% less than in George Town, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 81% above, George Town 255% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
George Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74 €16.33
$30.08 KYD 24.66
-37.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5 €60.6
$116 KYD 95.3
-40.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.77 €12.00
$16.50 KYD 13.53
-16.55%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$7.15 KYD 5.87
-56.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 €2.47
$3.07 KYD 2.52
-7.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 €1.64
$2.81 KYD 2.30
-33.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.98 €3.47
$7.31 KYD 6.00
-45.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €3.95
$9.49 KYD 7.78
-52.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
George Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.11
$4.48 KYD 3.67
-71.65%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 €1.88
$4.13 KYD 3.39
-47.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.53
$4.20 KYD 3.44
-58.10%
Eggs
$5.13 €4.47
$7.39 KYD 6.06
-30.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.88 €15.59
$55.2 KYD 45.23
-67.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 €8.41
$18.97 KYD 15.56
-49.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.15 €17.56
$19.92 KYD 16.33
1.15%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 €2.84
$7.24 KYD 5.94
-55.11%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 €1.94
$3.75 KYD 3.07
-40.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.60 €2.27
$6.18 KYD 5.07
-57.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 €2.40
$7.98 KYD 6.54
-65.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 €1.93
$4.14 KYD 3.39
-46.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 €1.85
$3.98 KYD 3.27
-46.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 €1.35
$3.35 KYD 2.74
-53.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 €0.83
$2.19 KYD 1.79
-56.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34 €6.40
$14.49 KYD 11.88
-49.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.05 €7.01
$24.90 KYD 20.42
-67.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 €1.35
$4.29 KYD 3.52
-64.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 €2.43
$5.64 KYD 4.62
-50.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
George Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.11 €2.71
$2.47 KYD 2.02
25.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.86 €22.54
$81.8 KYD 67.1
-68.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.27 €2.85
$18.61 KYD 15.26
-82.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 €1.29
$3.82 KYD 3.13
-61.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.27 €29.88
$45.31 KYD 37.15
-24.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 €1.51
$1.61 KYD 1.32
7.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K €31.7K
$41.6K KYD 34.1K
-12.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K €26.6K
$42.4K KYD 34.8K
-27.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
George Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 €163
$451 KYD 370
-58.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14 €13.20
$119 KYD 97.9
-87.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69 €32.85
$112 KYD 92.0
-66.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
George Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 €48.76
$217 KYD 178
-74.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08 €14.89
$35.40 KYD 29.03
-51.75%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41 €9.95
$18.85 KYD 15.46
-39.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
George Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$997 €869
$1,777 KYD 1,457
-43.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.4K
$26.9K KYD 22.1K
-38.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
George Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6 €80.8
$87.2 KYD 71.5
6.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22 €35.93
$74.4 KYD 61.0
-44.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 €96.9
$140 KYD 115
-20.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €109
$148 KYD 121
-15.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
George Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,707 €1,488
$2,957 KYD 2,425
-42.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,286 €1,121
$2,431 KYD 1,993
-47.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,565 €2,236
$5,751 KYD 4,715
-55.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,942 €1,693
$4,655 KYD 3,817
-58.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,647 €6,666
$8,838 KYD 7,247
-13.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,167 €4,504
$2,268 KYD 1,859
127.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
George Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,348 €2,047
$7,325 KYD 6,006
-67.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.16
8
-60.50%

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

Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026

Last update for George Town: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $2,957 in George Town. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George Town pays 212% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $116 in George Town for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $718 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 George Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in George Town?
Barcelona and George Town differ by about 96% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $4,853 including rent). Barcelona 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 212% lower in George Town. 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 George Town?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $2,957 in George Town. 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 George Town?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $1,777 in George Town. 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 114% higher in George Town. 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 George Town?
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 George Town safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and George Town 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 George Town?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in George Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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