😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,014 in Kempton Park.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,579 in Kempton Park.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,145 in Kempton Park.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 131% more expensive than Kempton Park, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Kempton Park is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$8.31R 139
111.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$33.84R 568
103.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$4.77R 80.0
188.26%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$2.18R 36.63
26.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$1.04R 17.43
167.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.82R 13.80
150.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$2.19R 36.72
110.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$2.59R 43.37
77.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.24R 20.87
3.23%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$1.06R 17.75
99.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.66R 27.86
18.67%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$2.37R 39.77
45.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$7.62R 128
147.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$4.69R 78.6
101.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$6.63R 111
186.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$1.71R 28.64
59.06%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$1.53R 25.67
54.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$1.60R 26.90
30.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$1.64R 27.54
68.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.46R 24.43
34.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.44R 24.07
24.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$1.09R 18.28
38.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$1.12R 18.71
-19.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$3.02R 50.6
123.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$5.47R 91.8
38.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.50R 25.16
-4.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$1.85R 31.07
30.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$1.36R 22.81
122.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$56.6R 948
-49.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$1.09R 18.26
306.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$0.94R 15.84
118.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$4.15R 69.6
606.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.32R 22.17
43.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$22.4KR 375.9K
72.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$24.4KR 408.6K
32.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$124R 2,082
51.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$41.01R 688
-45.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$42.95R 720
-14.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$25.75R 432
125.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$5.57R 93.4
276.84%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$7.35R 123
50.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$206R 3,451
253.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$4,431R 74.3K
243.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$50.7R 850
74.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$32.58R 546
13.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$88.4R 1,482
16.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$78.0R 1,307
52.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$279R 4,676
447.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$255R 4,283
377.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$693R 11.6K
303.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$563R 9,437
260.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$810R 13.6K
776.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$688R 11.5K
604.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$642R 10.8K
274.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
11.51
-70.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kempton Park: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $279 in Kempton Park. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 274% 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 $34.00 in Kempton Park for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $185 per month, with Kempton Park 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 Kempton Park: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Kempton Park?
Barcelona and Kempton Park differ by about 131% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,014 including rent). Kempton Park is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Kempton Park?
Barcelona pays 274% more on average, 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 Kempton Park?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $279 in Kempton Park. 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 Kempton Park?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $206 in Kempton Park. 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 73% 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 $1,014 in Kempton Park versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kempton Park but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Kempton Park the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Kempton Park?
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 Kempton Park safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Kempton Park 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 Kempton Park?
Expats usually find Kempton Park gentler on the wallet – expenses run 131% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.