😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,964 in Kaufbeuren.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $2,944 in Kaufbeuren.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $3,925 in Kaufbeuren.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 19% more expensive than Kaufbeuren, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona75% above, Kaufbeuren47% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Kaufbeuren
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$17.53€15.00
0.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$66.4€56.8
3.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$11.38€9.74
20.83%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$3.98€3.41
-30.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$2.79€2.39
-0.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$2.62€2.24
-21.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$4.61€3.95
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$4.50€3.85
2.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Kaufbeuren
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.29€1.11
-0.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$2.14€1.83
-1.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$3.49€2.99
-43.55%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$3.64€3.11
-5.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$15.19€13.01
23.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$13.18€11.28
-28.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$20.55€17.59
-7.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$3.37€2.88
-19.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$1.76€1.50
34.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$2.56€2.20
-18.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$4.96€4.25
-44.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.84€1.57
7.07%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.85€1.58
-3.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$1.87€1.60
-19.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$1.33€1.14
-32.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$9.09€7.78
-25.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$6.47€5.54
16.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.06€0.91
35.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$1.70€1.46
41.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Kaufbeuren
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$3.40€2.91
-10.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$62.1€53.2
-54.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$4.13€3.54
7.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$2.07€1.77
-0.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$28.42€24.33
3.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.96€1.68
-3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$33.2K€28.5K
16.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$35.7K€30.6K
-9.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Kaufbeuren
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$274€235
-31.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$34.13€29.21
-34.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$54.8€46.89
-32.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Kaufbeuren
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$39.56€33.86
46.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$22.94€19.64
-8.50%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$17.52€14.99
-36.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Kaufbeuren
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$343€294
111.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$11.4K€9,794
33.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Kaufbeuren
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$76.6€65.5
15.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$49.35€42.24
-25.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$72.3€61.9
41.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$99.4€85.1
19.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Kaufbeuren
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$833€713
83.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$677€579
79.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$1,553€1,329
79.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$1,228€1,051
65.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$5,290€4,528
34.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$3,460€2,962
40.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Kaufbeuren
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$2,926€2,505
-17.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
3.97
-14.61%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Kaufbeuren: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $833 in Kaufbeuren. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kaufbeuren pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $66.0 in Kaufbeuren. Groceries flip the comparison at $320 vs $353, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Barcelona vs Kaufbeuren: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Kaufbeuren?
Barcelona and Kaufbeuren differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,964 including rent). Kaufbeuren is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Kaufbeuren earns 22% less. 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 Kaufbeuren?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $833 in Kaufbeuren. 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 Kaufbeuren?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $343 in Kaufbeuren. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,964 in Kaufbeuren versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Kaufbeuren but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Kaufbeuren the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Kaufbeuren?
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 Kaufbeuren safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Kaufbeuren 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 Kaufbeuren?
Expats usually find Kaufbeuren gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Barcelona vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado