😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,148 in Krosno.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,737 in Krosno.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,326 in Krosno.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 104% more expensive than Krosno, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Krosno is 14% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Krosno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$6.69zł 24.37
163.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$37.90zł 138
81.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$6.15zł 22.38
123.58%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$2.43zł 8.84
13.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$2.00zł 7.29
39.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$1.41zł 5.12
45.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$2.56zł 9.31
80.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$2.79zł 10.16
64.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Krosno
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$0.97zł 3.52
31.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$1.03zł 3.75
104.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.00zł 3.63
97.00%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$2.89zł 10.51
19.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$10.55zł 38.41
78.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$6.33zł 23.04
49.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$10.71zł 38.98
77.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$0.85zł 3.08
220.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$1.08zł 3.93
119.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$1.37zł 4.99
51.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$3.11zł 11.32
-11.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$0.56zł 2.03
251.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$0.97zł 3.51
84.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$0.77zł 2.80
96.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$0.56zł 2.04
60.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$5.53zł 20.12
22.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$5.36zł 19.52
40.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$0.89zł 3.25
61.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$1.59zł 5.79
51.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Krosno
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$1.11zł 4.03
172.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$32.21zł 117
-11.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$2.11zł 7.67
109.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$0.77zł 2.80
166.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$10.69zł 38.92
174.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.73zł 6.31
9.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$34.2Kzł 124.3K
13.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$29.9Kzł 109.0K
8.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Krosno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$120zł 438
56.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$6.86zł 24.97
223.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$14.99zł 54.6
145.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Krosno
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$32.52zł 118
78.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
$19.25zł 70.1
9.04%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$7.18zł 26.13
53.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Krosno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$317zł 1,154
129.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$11.0Kzł 39.9K
38.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Krosno
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$32.42zł 118
172.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$32.78zł 119
12.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$96.6zł 352
6.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$68.0zł 247
75.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Krosno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$659zł 2,400
131.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$486zł 1,768
150.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$977zł 3,558
185.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$802zł 2,919
152.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$1,773zł 6,455
300.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$1,390zł 5,060
248.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Krosno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$1,091zł 3,972
120.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.92
-51.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Krosno: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $659 in Krosno. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 120% 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 $38.00 in Krosno for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $194 per month, with Krosno 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 Krosno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Krosno?
Barcelona and Krosno differ by about 104% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,148 including rent). Krosno is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Krosno?
Barcelona pays 120% 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 Krosno?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $659 in Krosno. 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 Krosno?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $317 in Krosno. 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 64% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,148 in Krosno versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Krosno but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Krosno the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Krosno?
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 Krosno safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Krosno 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 Krosno?
Expats usually find Krosno gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.