Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Lacey, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Barcelona: $2,453 a month against $2,784 in Lacey, WA, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. The total is higher in Lacey, WA despite lower rent and utilities.

Barcelona, Spain
Lacey, WA, United States
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,453
/mo nomad
Lacey, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,784
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barcelona and in Lacey, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Barcelona and in Lacey, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,453 in Barcelona versus $2,784 in Lacey, WA.

  • Barcelona $2,453
  • Lacey, WA $2,784

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,509 in Barcelona versus $4,064 in Lacey, WA.

  • Barcelona $3,509
  • Lacey, WA $4,064

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,564 in Barcelona versus $5,345 in Lacey, WA.

  • Barcelona $4,564
  • Lacey, WA $5,345

Living in Barcelona costs roughly 12% less than in Lacey, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 80% above, Lacey, WA 105% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Lacey, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.76
$24.93 $24.93
-29.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.5
$70.7 $70.7
-4.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.53 €12.12
$14.83 $14.83
-8.77%
Cappuccino
$3.19 €2.86
$6.81 $6.81
-53.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.61
$3.21 $3.21
-9.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 €1.70
$2.93 $2.93
-35.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.01 €3.59
$7.97 $7.97
-49.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €4.06
$8.20 $8.20
-44.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Lacey, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 €1.17
$1.09 $1.09
20.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.02 €1.81
$4.61 $4.61
-56.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 €1.66
$3.19 $3.19
-42.01%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.33
$4.85 $4.85
-0.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.74 €15.00
$18.22 $18.22
-8.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.12 €8.17
$10.56 $10.56
-13.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.64 €17.60
$16.87 $16.87
16.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 €2.67
$5.21 $5.21
-42.80%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 €1.81
$1.63 $1.63
23.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 €2.42
$4.11 $4.11
-34.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.80 €2.51
$4.70 $4.70
-40.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 €1.87
$2.62 $2.62
-20.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.85
$2.48 $2.48
-16.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 €1.31
$2.89 $2.89
-49.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.84
$2.48 $2.48
-62.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.87 €6.16
$12.50 $12.50
-45.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 €7.07
$15.07 $15.07
-47.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 €1.26
$2.38 $2.38
-40.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 €2.27
$2.41 $2.41
5.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Lacey, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.14 €2.82
$1.89 $1.89
66.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.45 €22.80
$66.4 $66.4
-61.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 €2.68
$2.62 $2.62
14.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 €1.34
$1.66 $1.66
-10.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.37 €29.91
$29.54 $29.54
12.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 €1.61
$1.36 $1.36
32.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K €29.7K
$28.4K $28.4K
17.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K €28.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
20.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Lacey, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 €162
$220 $220
-18.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.84 €12.40
$68.3 $68.3
-79.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.70 €30.20
$93.6 $93.6
-64.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Lacey, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.5 €46.16
$39.84 $39.84
29.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.96 €14.30
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.99 €9.85
$12.84 $12.84
-14.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Lacey, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$917 €821
$1,425 $1,425
-35.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.8K
$31.7K $31.7K
-48.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Lacey, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.0 €78.0
$44.93 $44.93
93.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51 €34.51
$55.7 $55.7
-30.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 €94.8
$91.3 $91.3
15.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €107
$100 $100
19.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Lacey, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,699 €1,523
$1,613 $1,613
5.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,355 €1,214
$1,289 $1,289
5.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,603 €2,332
$2,256 $2,256
15.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 €1,848
$2,155 $2,155
-4.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,915 €6,196
$3,252 $3,252
112.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,128 €4,595
$2,507 $2,507
104.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Lacey, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,211 €1,981
$4,247 $4,247
-47.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.28
6.81
-51.84%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: October 25, 2026

Last update for Lacey, WA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
$1.4K
Lacey, WA
$1.3K 4.9% $66
Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
$322
Lacey, WA
$424 31.7% $102
Eating Out
Barcelona
$268
Lacey, WA
$406 51.7% $138
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
$228
Lacey, WA
$382 67.7% $154
Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
$158
Lacey, WA
$132 16.8% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
$74
Lacey, WA
$66 10.9% $8
Getting Around
Barcelona
$48
Lacey, WA
$85 75.1% $36

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,699 in Barcelona and $1,613 in Lacey, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lacey, WA pays 92% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $67 in Barcelona vs $71 in Lacey, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $322 vs $424 per month, with Barcelona cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🇺🇸 Lacey, WA
🕒 Local time
06:43 6:43 AM
21:43 9:43 PM
9 h behind Barcelona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,660,122
53,526
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barcelona Lacey, WA 8,790 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Barcelona
  • Lacey, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Lacey, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Lacey, WA?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,453 in Barcelona and $2,784 in Lacey, WA, so Barcelona is about 12% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 48% lower in Barcelona. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Lacey, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,699 in Barcelona versus $1,613 in Lacey, WA. 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 Lacey, WA?
Childcare runs $917 in Barcelona versus $1,425 in Lacey, WA. 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 32% higher in Lacey, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Lacey, WA?
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 Lacey, WA safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Lacey, WA are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Barcelona and Lacey, WA?
It comes down to priorities – Barcelona wins on affordability, Lacey, WA on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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