😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $699 in Kafue.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,058 in Kafue.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $1,416 in Kafue.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 234% more expensive than Kafue, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Kafue is 48% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$7.05ZMW 123
142.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$25.10ZMW 439
175.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$3.77ZMW 65.8
265.52%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$1.97ZMW 34.38
40.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.68ZMW 11.84
310.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.36ZMW 6.37
452.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$0.95ZMW 16.60
358.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$1.81ZMW 31.64
161.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.27ZMW 22.13
1.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$0.80ZMW 13.90
156.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.58ZMW 27.65
25.95%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$1.83ZMW 31.93
85.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$7.69ZMW 134
144.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$3.97ZMW 69.5
135.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$4.63ZMW 80.9
312.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$2.57ZMW 44.91
5.06%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.63ZMW 28.52
43.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$2.70ZMW 47.24
-21.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$1.13ZMW 19.74
152.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$1.88ZMW 32.87
4.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.36ZMW 23.82
32.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$0.88ZMW 15.37
64.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.49ZMW 8.51
75.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$2.42ZMW 42.24
180.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$11.34ZMW 198
-30.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.08ZMW 18.89
28.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$1.52ZMW 26.54
55.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$1.61ZMW 28.22
81.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$46.10ZMW 806
-37.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$2.81ZMW 49.17
58.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$9.37ZMW 164
215.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.20ZMW 20.97
51.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$8,105ZMW 141.7K
379.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$28.4KZMW 496.4K
16.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$91.0ZMW 1,590
107.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$52.2ZMW 912
-56.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$126ZMW 2,210
-70.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$4.25ZMW 74.2
154.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$174ZMW 3,035
319.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$9,402ZMW 164.3K
57.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$18.99ZMW 332
366.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$17.28ZMW 302
113.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$83.4ZMW 1,457
22.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$73.6ZMW 1,287
57.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
25
-86.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Kafue: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $25.00 in Kafue for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $179 per month, with Kafue 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 Kafue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Kafue?
Barcelona and Kafue differ by about 234% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $699 including rent). Kafue 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 Kafue?
You'd need roughly $3,505 in Barcelona and $1,049 in Kafue 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Kafue?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $174 in Kafue. 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 78% 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 $699 in Kafue versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kafue but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Kafue the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Kafue?
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 Kafue safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Kafue 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 Kafue?
Expats usually find Kafue gentler on the wallet – expenses run 234% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.