😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $985 in Kempton Park.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $1,579 in Kempton Park.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $2,172 in Kempton Park.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 139% more expensive than in Kempton Park, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Kempton Park is 26% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$8.60R 142
99.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$34.10R 561
99.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$4.83R 79.5
182.40%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$2.23R 36.78
24.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$0.99R 16.28
184.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.81R 13.36
141.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$2.30R 37.78
92.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$2.46R 40.56
87.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$1.25R 20.51
1.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$1.03R 16.91
106.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$1.65R 27.20
20.61%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$2.49R 40.95
35.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$7.75R 128
144.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$4.68R 77.0
103.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$6.73R 111
178.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$1.67R 27.52
58.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$1.56R 25.67
50.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.60R 26.40
30.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$1.68R 27.71
62.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$1.50R 24.72
30.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.38R 22.70
31.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$1.08R 17.82
39.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$1.12R 18.40
-20.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$2.91R 47.88
132.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$5.45R 89.8
45.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.51R 24.90
-9.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$1.84R 30.36
30.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$1.38R 22.73
110.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$56.8R 935
-49.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$1.10R 18.13
316.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$0.91R 14.97
124.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$4.08R 67.1
603.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$1.31R 21.56
38.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$22.0KR 362.5K
78.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$23.9KR 393.8K
35.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$124R 2,047
50.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$41.08R 676
-45.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$43.13R 710
-15.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$26.10R 430
120.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
$5.63R 92.6
268.38%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$7.34R 121
46.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$204R 3,358
255.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$4,267R 70.3K
255.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$49.80R 820
76.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$32.28R 531
14.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$87.4R 1,439
18.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$77.3R 1,272
53.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$282R 4,648
439.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$259R 4,264
373.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$683R 11.2K
299.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$567R 9,329
250.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$839R 13.8K
789.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$667R 11.0K
685.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Kempton Park
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
$634R 10.4K
277.59%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Kempton Park: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $282 in Kempton Park. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 278% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $34.00 in Kempton Park for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 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 in Kempton Park?
Barcelona and Kempton Park differ by about 139% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $985 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?
Average pay runs 278% 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 Kempton Park?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 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 $725 in Barcelona versus $204 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 72% 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 $985 in Kempton Park versus $2,359 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 139% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.