Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Katy, TX

For one person, living costs are similar in Barcelona and in Katy, TX: $2,443 and $2,451 a month, rent and utilities included.

Barcelona, Spain
Katy, TX, United States
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,443
/mo nomad
Katy, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,451
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barcelona and in Katy, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Barcelona and in Katy, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,443 in Barcelona versus $2,451 in Katy, TX.

  • Barcelona $2,443
  • Katy, TX $2,451

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,519 in Barcelona versus $3,581 in Katy, TX.

  • Barcelona $3,519
  • Katy, TX $3,581

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,595 in Barcelona versus $4,711 in Katy, TX.

  • Barcelona $4,595
  • Katy, TX $4,711

Monthly costs are close between Barcelona and Katy, TX; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 81% above, Katy, TX 81% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Katy, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 €15.71
$16.88 $16.88
4.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.0
$60.6 $60.6
11.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.61 €12.12
$8.85 $8.85
53.79%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.76
$3.49 $3.49
-11.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 €2.67
$1.98 $1.98
51.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 €1.71
$2.13 $2.13
-9.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.84 €3.42
$4.07 $4.07
-5.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 €3.88
$5.53 $5.53
-21.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Katy, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 €1.11
$0.95 $0.95
31.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.12 €1.89
$3.53 $3.53
-39.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 €1.76
$3.06 $3.06
-35.62%
Eggs
$4.76 €4.24
$3.05 $3.05
56.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.07 €15.19
$13.08 $13.08
30.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.96 €7.97
$9.66 $9.66
-7.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.65 €18.38
$16.72 $16.72
23.50%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 €2.81
$3.83 $3.83
-17.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$1.24 $1.24
58.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 €2.36
$3.12 $3.12
-15.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.88 €2.57
$3.25 $3.25
-11.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 €1.83
$2.10 $2.10
-1.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 €1.94
$2.49 $2.49
-12.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.53 €1.37
$1.78 $1.78
-14.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 €0.86
$1.22 $1.22
-20.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.97 €6.20
$9.68 $9.68
-28.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 €7.02
$12.75 $12.75
-38.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 €1.26
$1.70 $1.70
-16.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 €2.39
$1.58 $1.58
70.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Katy, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.31 €2.94
$2.02 $2.02
63.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.61 €22.79
$107 $107
-76.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 €2.74
$2.68 $2.68
14.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 €1.32
$1.58 $1.58
-6.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.87 €29.25
$35.07 $35.07
-6.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 €1.66
$0.85 $0.85
120.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K €29.3K
$32.3K $32.3K
1.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K €28.4K
$24.5K $24.5K
30.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Katy, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 €163
$246 $246
-25.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.24 €12.67
$58.9 $58.9
-75.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.56 €30.76
$70.7 $70.7
-51.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Katy, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.4 €45.76
$25.59 $25.59
100.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.38 €14.58
$25.19 $25.19
-34.97%
Cinema Ticket
$11.06 €9.85
$11.91 $11.91
-7.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Katy, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$944 €840
$1,009 $1,009
-6.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.3K €19.8K
$17.8K $17.8K
25.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Katy, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7 €78.0
$52.8 $52.8
66.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.77 €34.51
$43.00 $43.00
-9.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.0
$86.9 $86.9
20.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 €105
$109 $109
7.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Katy, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,697 €1,510
$1,544 $1,544
9.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 €1,190
$1,186 $1,186
12.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,692 €2,396
$2,750 $2,750
-2.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,077 €1,848
$2,026 $2,026
2.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,155 €6,367
$2,098 $2,098
241.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,079 €4,520
$1,542 $1,542
229.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Katy, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,241 €1,995
$4,102 $4,102
-45.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.19
6.41
-50.23%

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

Last update for Barcelona: November 2, 2026

Last update for Katy, TX: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
$1.3K
Katy, TX
$1.2K 11.3% $151
Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
$328
Katy, TX
$332 1.4% $4.7
Eating Out
Barcelona
$267
Katy, TX
$251 5.9% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
$232
Katy, TX
$375 62% $144
Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
$157
Katy, TX
$131 16.3% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
$74
Katy, TX
$49 32.8% $24
Getting Around
Barcelona
$49
Katy, TX
$125 154% $76

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,697 in Barcelona and $1,544 in Katy, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Katy, TX pays 83% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $67 in Barcelona vs $61 in Katy, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $328 vs $332, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🇺🇸 Katy, TX
🕒 Local time
02:50 2:50 AM
19:50 7:50 PM
7 h behind Barcelona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,660,122
14,102
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 0.89 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.13 USD (1 USD = 0.888 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barcelona Katy, TX 8,480 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Barcelona
  • Katy, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Katy, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 45% lower in Barcelona. 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 Katy, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,697 in Barcelona versus $1,544 in Katy, 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 Katy, TX?
Childcare runs $944 in Barcelona versus $1,009 in Katy, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do commuting costs compare in Barcelona and in Katy, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Barcelona runs roughly 76% less than in Katy, TX. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
How far does $3,000 go in Barcelona compared to Katy, TX?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Barcelona gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Katy, 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 Katy, TX safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Katy, TX are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Barcelona and Katy, TX?
It comes down to priorities – Barcelona wins on affordability, Katy, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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