😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $1,013 in Kecskemet.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,522 in Kecskemet.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $2,031 in Kecskemet.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 129% more expensive than in Kecskemet, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Kecskemet is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$7.57Ft 2,398
133.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$28.59Ft 9,059
143.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$4.89Ft 1,551
189.57%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$1.38Ft 438
102.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$1.22Ft 387
130.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.69Ft 218
198.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$2.04Ft 648
125.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$2.18Ft 690
115.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.12Ft 354
9.82%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$1.18Ft 375
72.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$2.06Ft 653
-3.88%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$2.87Ft 911
21.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$8.04Ft 2,548
127.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$6.04Ft 1,913
62.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$10.35Ft 3,280
84.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$1.20Ft 381
127.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$1.32Ft 418
80.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.75Ft 553
18.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$2.40Ft 760
14.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$0.97Ft 308
102.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$1.10Ft 349
62.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$1.03Ft 328
43.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.48Ft 151
89.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$5.85Ft 1,854
21.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$3.73Ft 1,182
111.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$0.94Ft 298
46.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$1.47Ft 464
62.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$1.02Ft 324
195.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$17.37Ft 5,502
68.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$1.15Ft 364
279.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$1.31Ft 415
62.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$17.46Ft 5,533
69.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.68Ft 531
8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$26.5KFt 8.4M
42.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$28.4KFt 9.0M
13.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$106Ft 33.6K
78.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$26.10Ft 8,270
-14.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$18.36Ft 5,818
102.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$47.51Ft 15.1K
22.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$17.03Ft 5,397
21.32%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$8.43Ft 2,670
28.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$220Ft 69.8K
220.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$6,241Ft 2.0M
138.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$107Ft 34.0K
-16.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$14.44Ft 4,576
153.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$42.92Ft 13.6K
142.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$73.0Ft 23.1K
63.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$467Ft 148.0K
237.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$378Ft 119.8K
227.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$658Ft 208.5K
312.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$565Ft 179.0K
260.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$2,407Ft 762.5K
212.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$2,050Ft 649.7K
155.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$1,132Ft 358.5K
108.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.85
-42.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Kecskemet: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $467 in Kecskemet. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 109% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $29.00 in Kecskemet for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $191 per month, with Kecskemet 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 Kecskemet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Kecskemet?
Barcelona and Kecskemet differ by about 129% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $1,013 including rent). Kecskemet is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Kecskemet?
Average pay runs 109% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Kecskemet?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $467 in Kecskemet. 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 Kecskemet?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $220 in Kecskemet. 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 67% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,013 in Kecskemet versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kecskemet but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Kecskemet the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Kecskemet?
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 Kecskemet safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Kecskemet 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 Kecskemet?
Expats usually find Kecskemet gentler on the wallet – expenses run 129% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.