😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $954 in Kostanay.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,384 in Kostanay.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $1,813 in Kostanay.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 143% more expensive than in Kostanay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Kostanay is 29% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Kostanay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$7.62₸3,583
131.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$24.91₸11.7K
179.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$6.33₸2,973
123.70%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$2.30₸1,082
21.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$1.03₸483
172.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.80₸377
157.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$1.72₸810
167.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$3.26₸1,531
43.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Kostanay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$0.95₸448
29.47%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$0.44₸206
361.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.16₸545
70.69%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$1.78₸835
96.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$7.70₸3,618
138.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$5.26₸2,473
86.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$8.36₸3,930
128.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$1.30₸611
110.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$1.91₸899
24.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.30₸612
60.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$1.29₸607
113.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$0.58₸275
237.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$0.24₸113
645.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$0.96₸451
54.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.87₸408
4.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$2.21₸1,037
222.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$7.84₸3,683
0.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.01₸474
36.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$2.72₸1,278
-12.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Kostanay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$0.28₸131
975.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$1.02₸479
327.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$1.06₸497
100.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$5.76₸2,706
413.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$0.49₸231
271.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$29.7K₸14.0M
27.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$26.1K₸12.3M
23.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Kostanay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$72.6₸34.1K
160.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$9.65₸4,537
130.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$10.88₸5,112
241.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Kostanay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$39.74₸18.7K
46.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$17.31₸8,134
19.35%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$3.71₸1,743
192.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Kostanay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$186₸87.3K
280.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$5,680₸2.7M
161.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Kostanay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$105₸49.2K
-14.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$56.3₸26.5K
-35.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$114₸53.6K
-8.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$102₸48.1K
16.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Kostanay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$385₸180.8K
310.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$330₸155.2K
274.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$529₸248.8K
412.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$425₸199.7K
380.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$1,137₸534.4K
561.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$899₸422.8K
482.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Kostanay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$626₸294.4K
277.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
18.5
-81.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Kostanay: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $385 in Kostanay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 277% 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 $25.00 in Kostanay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $172 per month, with Kostanay 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 Kostanay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Kostanay?
Barcelona and Kostanay differ by about 143% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $954 including rent). Kostanay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Kostanay?
Average pay runs 277% 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 Kostanay?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $385 in Kostanay. 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 Kostanay?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $186 in Kostanay. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Kostanay – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $70.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $954 in Kostanay versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kostanay but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Kostanay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Kostanay?
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 Kostanay safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Kostanay 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 Kostanay?
Expats usually find Kostanay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 143% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.