😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,306 in Kingstown.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $2,109 in Kingstown.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,912 in Kingstown.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 79% more expensive than Kingstown, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Kingstown is 2% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Kingstown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$7.28EC$19.64
141.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$71.7EC$194
-4.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$10.98EC$29.65
25.23%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$3.31EC$8.95
-16.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$2.11EC$5.70
31.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$2.05EC$5.55
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$1.88EC$5.09
145.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$2.16EC$5.83
112.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Kingstown
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$3.22EC$8.70
-60.25%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$2.00EC$5.41
5.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.66EC$4.48
18.67%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$4.52EC$12.21
-23.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$11.62EC$31.38
62.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$4.73EC$12.78
99.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$12.20EC$32.93
55.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$8.92EC$24.07
-69.51%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$2.94EC$7.93
-19.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$8.61EC$23.23
-75.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$5.28EC$14.24
-47.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$3.82EC$10.30
-48.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$3.18EC$8.58
-43.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$4.14EC$11.19
-63.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$3.05EC$8.23
-70.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$4.00EC$10.80
69.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$16.89EC$45.60
-55.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$2.13EC$5.74
-32.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$2.37EC$6.41
1.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Kingstown
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$1.23EC$3.32
146.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$49.98EC$135
-43.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$11.04EC$29.82
-59.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$1.84EC$4.96
11.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$29.38EC$79.3
-0.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$3.07EC$8.30
-38.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$37.4KEC$100.9K
3.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$30.5KEC$82.4K
5.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Kingstown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$74.1EC$200
154.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$28.73EC$77.6
-22.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$54.8EC$148
-32.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Kingstown
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$31.95EC$86.3
81.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$4.51EC$12.17
365.41%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$4.52EC$12.22
144.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Kingstown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$118EC$319
515.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Kingstown
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$80.3EC$217
9.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$65.7EC$177
-43.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$93.7EC$253
9.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$84.8EC$229
40.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Kingstown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$334EC$901
357.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$317EC$857
283.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$545EC$1,470
413.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$488EC$1,319
315.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$606EC$1,637
1069.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$596EC$1,610
713.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Kingstown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$1,050EC$2,835
128.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
7.5
-54.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kingstown: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $334 in Kingstown. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 129% 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 $72.0 in Kingstown for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $415 per month, with Barcelona 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 Kingstown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Kingstown?
Barcelona and Kingstown differ by about 79% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,306 including rent). Kingstown is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Kingstown?
Barcelona pays 129% 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 Kingstown?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $334 in Kingstown. 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 Kingstown?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $118 in Kingstown. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 30% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,306 in Kingstown versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kingstown but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Kingstown the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Kingstown?
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 Kingstown safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Kingstown 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 Kingstown?
Expats usually find Kingstown gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.