😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $605 in Kafue.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $953 in Kafue.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,302 in Kafue.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 309% more expensive than in Kafue, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Kafue is 56% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.31
$5.73ZMW 112
227.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.5
$30.86ZMW 605
125.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€11.98
$5.16ZMW 101
166.86%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.85ZMW 55.9
8.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$0.75ZMW 14.63
277.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.50ZMW 9.81
276.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$1.28ZMW 25.08
210.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.94
$2.30ZMW 45.11
96.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.83ZMW 35.96
-30.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$1.26ZMW 24.71
71.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$2.13ZMW 41.74
-17.37%
Eggs
$5.13€4.46
$1.97ZMW 38.63
160.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.56
$10.78ZMW 211
65.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.40
$6.75ZMW 132
42.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.54
$6.72ZMW 132
199.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.83
$3.57ZMW 69.9
-8.96%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$2.55ZMW 50.0
-12.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.26
$3.79ZMW 74.4
-31.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$1.56ZMW 30.63
76.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.92
$2.60ZMW 51.0
-15.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.84
$1.94ZMW 38.05
9.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$1.20ZMW 23.59
29.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.81ZMW 15.88
17.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.39
$3.19ZMW 62.5
130.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.00
$10.60ZMW 208
-24.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.34
$1.52ZMW 29.83
1.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$2.34ZMW 45.90
19.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.70
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.51
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$2.59ZMW 50.8
26.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$1.62ZMW 31.67
-8.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.83
$5.13ZMW 100
568.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.50
$1.61ZMW 31.55
7.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$7,734ZMW 151.6K
370.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$27.2KZMW 532.7K
12.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$82.0ZMW 1,607
128.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.18
$10.99ZMW 215
37.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.80
$57.5ZMW 1,127
-34.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.69
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.93
$6.38ZMW 125
78.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€867
$146ZMW 2,868
581.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$16.8KZMW 328.3K
-1.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.6
$23.80ZMW 466
289.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.88
$15.75ZMW 309
161.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.8
$46.80ZMW 917
137.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$74.4ZMW 1,458
68.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,486
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,119
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,233
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,690
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,656
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,497
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Kafue
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,044
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
29
-89.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Kafue: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $31.00 in Kafue for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $249 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 in Kafue?
Barcelona and Kafue differ by about 309% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $605 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 $3,714 in Barcelona and $907 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 $997 in Barcelona versus $146 in Kafue. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Kafue – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $605 in Kafue versus $2,476 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 309% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.