😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,482 in Barcelona versus $1,232 in Kecskemet.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in Barcelona versus $1,800 in Kecskemet.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $2,367 in Kecskemet.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 101% more expensive than in Kecskemet, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Kecskemet is 11% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42€15.88
$10.17Ft 3,186
81.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4€59.8
$31.71Ft 9,932
118.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.05€12.11
$7.98Ft 2,501
76.07%
Cappuccino
$3.11€2.68
$1.82Ft 571
70.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.55
$1.52Ft 478
94.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.69
$0.98Ft 307
98.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.99€3.44
$2.28Ft 715
75.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€3.98
$2.43Ft 762
90.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.14
$1.22Ft 381
8.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.82
$1.35Ft 422
56.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$2.63Ft 824
-30.42%
Eggs
$5.16€4.45
$3.88Ft 1,215
32.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.56€15.14
$10.36Ft 3,245
69.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.50€8.19
$6.99Ft 2,190
35.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.93€17.18
$14.75Ft 4,622
35.12%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.73
$1.83Ft 572
73.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.91
$1.68Ft 526
31.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61€2.25
$1.87Ft 586
39.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$3.33Ft 1,044
-14.41%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$1.06Ft 333
104.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.81
$1.19Ft 374
77.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62€1.39
$1.25Ft 393
29.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$0.53Ft 165
66.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17€6.18
$7.52Ft 2,356
-4.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.33€7.18
$3.80Ft 1,190
119.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.31Ft 411
14.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75€2.37
$2.08Ft 650
32.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.14€2.70
$1.23Ft 384
155.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.25€22.63
$19.49Ft 6,106
34.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22€2.78
$1.29Ft 404
149.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.30
$1.74Ft 545
-13.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.26€30.39
$19.47Ft 6,098
81.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.51
$1.85Ft 581
-5.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.6K
$28.6KFt 9.0M
28.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K€27.3K
$34.6KFt 10.8M
-8.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€161
$133Ft 41.6K
40.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10€13.01
$33.73Ft 10.6K
-55.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.60€32.41
$19.98Ft 6,258
88.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5€47.83
$63.3Ft 19.8K
-12.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.74€14.43
$28.58Ft 8,952
-41.43%
Cinema Ticket
$11.71€10.09
$8.55Ft 2,677
36.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,011€871
$262Ft 82.0K
286.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.1K€14.7K
$6,937Ft 2.2M
146.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4€78.8
$109Ft 34.3K
-16.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00€35.34
$15.94Ft 4,994
157.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€95.3
$47.92Ft 15.0K
130.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126€109
$79.9Ft 25.0K
57.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,704€1,469
$519Ft 162.7K
228.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,299€1,120
$418Ft 131.0K
210.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,588€2,231
$740Ft 231.9K
249.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,929€1,663
$616Ft 192.9K
213.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,732€6,665
$2,416Ft 756.9K
219.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,384€4,641
$2,075Ft 650.0K
159.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Kecskemet
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,374€2,046
$1,159Ft 363.2K
104.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
6.67
-52.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Last update for Kecskemet: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Barcelona and $519 in Kecskemet. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 105% 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: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $32.00 in Kecskemet for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $241 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 101% in total monthly costs ($2,482 vs $1,232 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 105% 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: $1,704 in Barcelona versus $519 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 $1,011 in Barcelona versus $262 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 39% 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 $1,232 in Kecskemet versus $2,482 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 101% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.