😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $1,022 in Kempton Park.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $1,573 in Kempton Park.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $2,124 in Kempton Park.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 135% more expensive than Kempton Park, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Kempton Park is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68€15.22
$8.16R 132
116.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€60.3
$33.00R 534
112.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.76
$4.93R 79.8
177.08%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.36
$2.19R 35.43
25.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$1.00R 16.12
179.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$0.81R 13.08
141.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$2.29R 37.01
90.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.94
$2.48R 40.14
84.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.20R 19.42
7.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.07R 17.31
91.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$1.71R 27.74
15.79%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$2.46R 39.80
37.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.64€16.05
$7.49R 121
148.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56€8.23
$4.64R 75.1
106.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83€16.22
$6.87R 111
174.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$1.65R 26.70
66.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$1.55R 25.13
59.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.80
$1.61R 26.05
30.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$1.70R 27.57
65.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.74
$1.46R 23.58
38.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$1.41R 22.75
31.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.30
$1.08R 17.50
39.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$1.15R 18.64
-21.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06€6.08
$3.00R 48.53
135.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98€6.87
$5.38R 87.0
48.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.23
$1.57R 25.48
-8.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.97
$1.77R 28.70
29.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.48
$1.38R 22.28
108.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.45
$56.4R 913
-49.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.77
$1.14R 18.47
284.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.84
$0.93R 15.09
130.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15€25.10
$4.11R 66.6
609.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.61
$1.30R 21.08
43.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$22.0KR 355.9K
77.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$23.6KR 382.6K
38.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$125R 2,019
51.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71€19.56
$40.87R 662
-44.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51€31.43
$42.16R 682
-13.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€49.59
$25.99R 421
121.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37€18.40
$5.74R 92.9
272.30%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.31
$7.69R 125
40.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€625
$206R 3,333
252.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K€13.0K
$4,375R 70.8K
245.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€75.5
$50.8R 822
72.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89€31.77
$31.77R 514
16.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.2
$87.9R 1,423
17.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$77.8R 1,259
49.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,355
$282R 4,568
457.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$259R 4,189
371.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,711€2,335
$681R 11.0K
298.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,966€1,693
$566R 9,168
247.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,811€6,726
$1,026R 16.6K
661.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,267€4,535
$783R 12.7K
572.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,375€2,045
$652R 10.5K
264.51%
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Kempton Park: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Barcelona and $282 in Kempton Park. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 265% 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 $33.00 in Kempton Park for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $186 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 135% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $1,022 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 265% 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: $1,573 in Barcelona versus $282 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 $1,022 in Kempton Park versus $2,399 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 135% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.