😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $407 in Karak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $583 in Karak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $759 in Karak.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 482% more expensive than Karak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Karak is 70% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Karak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.14
$0.74PKR 205
2275.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$7.00PKR 1,948
877.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.10
$5.27PKR 1,467
166.79%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.68PKR 189
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.00PKR 1,112
-
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$0.51PKR 141
445.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$0.34PKR 93.3
723.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.24PKR 66.9
758.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.97
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Karak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.00PKR 277
24.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.75
$0.51PKR 141
298.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.04PKR 288
84.62%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$1.09PKR 303
203.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.87
$1.81PKR 503
918.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.17
$2.82PKR 784
236.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.49
$4.29PKR 1,194
346.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$0.72PKR 201
266.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$0.55PKR 153
345.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$0.72PKR 202
194.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$0.55PKR 154
418.18%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.38PKR 107
436.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$0.57PKR 158
224.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.27
$0.17PKR 46.89
764.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.24PKR 66.6
250.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.34PKR 373
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.91PKR 253
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.98PKR 552
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.15
$2.14PKR 595
233.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.79
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Karak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.57
$0.18PKR 49.76
1555.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.19
$7.23PKR 2,010
304.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.96
$0.86PKR 240
434.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$0.44PKR 121
370.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.12
$2.84PKR 791
927.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$0.97PKR 269
89.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$21.6KPKR 6.0M
80.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$26.4KPKR 7.4M
23.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Karak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$113PKR 31.6K
65.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.74
$5.36PKR 1,491
327.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.61
$18.48PKR 5,141
98.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Karak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.39
$12.19PKR 3,391
370.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.82
$6.05PKR 1,684
242.15%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.64
$4.22PKR 1,174
165.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Karak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€621
$59.1PKR 16.5K
1119.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€13.0K
$1,129PKR 314.1K
1232.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Karak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$21.57PKR 6,001
299.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.92
$27.73PKR 7,714
33.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$90.1PKR 25.1K
13.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.8
$40.80PKR 11.4K
184.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Karak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,320
$73.7PKR 20.5K
1980.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,051
$51.6PKR 14.3K
2266.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,321
$167PKR 46.5K
1512.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,733
$104PKR 29.1K
1826.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,216
$1,127PKR 313.5K
540.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,467
$580PKR 161.3K
795.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Karak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,031
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
20.2
-83.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Karak: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $73.7 in Karak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $7.00 in Karak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $74.0 per month, with Karak 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 Karak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Karak?
Barcelona and Karak differ by about 482% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $407 including rent). Karak 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 Karak?
You'd need roughly $3,550 in Barcelona and $610 in Karak 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Karak?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $73.7 in Karak. 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 Karak?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $59.1 in Karak. 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 327% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $407 in Karak versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Karak but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Karak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Karak?
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 Karak safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Karak 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 Karak?
Expats usually find Karak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 482% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.