😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $1,358 in Mishref.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $2,324 in Mishref.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $3,290 in Mishref.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 71% more expensive than in Mishref, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, Mishref2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Mishref
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$10.06KWD 3.12
75.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$81.0KWD 25.09
-13.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$9.17KWD 2.84
54.42%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.50KWD 0.77
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.64KWD 1.13
-
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$5.84KWD 1.81
-52.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$0.65KWD 0.20
332.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.34KWD 0.11
505.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Mishref
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.64KWD 0.51
-25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$1.29KWD 0.40
57.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.76KWD 0.55
12.50%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$2.10KWD 0.65
66.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$5.28KWD 1.63
247.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$6.38KWD 1.98
54.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$10.51KWD 3.26
82.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$2.43KWD 0.75
12.35%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$1.99KWD 0.62
19.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.73KWD 0.54
20.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$1.44KWD 0.45
90.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$1.23KWD 0.38
59.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$1.32KWD 0.41
35.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$1.60KWD 0.50
-7.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.45KWD 0.14
102.22%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$3.32KWD 1.03
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.06KWD 0.33
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.35KWD 0.42
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$2.86KWD 0.89
149.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Mishref
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$0.90KWD 0.28
234.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$43.84KWD 13.59
-33.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$3.18KWD 0.98
37.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$3.29KWD 1.02
-35.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$16.38KWD 5.08
80.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$0.34KWD 0.10
435.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$20.9KKWD 6,485
81.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$20.2KKWD 6,268
60.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Mishref
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$62.2KWD 19.28
203.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$18.22KWD 5.65
22.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$25.62KWD 7.94
45.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Mishref
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$92.5KWD 28.66
-37.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$45.46KWD 14.09
-54.55%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$11.50KWD 3.57
-5.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Mishref
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$396KWD 123
78.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$6,467KWD 2,004
129.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Mishref
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$42.50KWD 13.17
110.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$43.21KWD 13.39
-15.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$89.0KWD 27.58
16.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$82.4KWD 25.54
44.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Mishref
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$798KWD 247
97.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$619KWD 192
99.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$1,561KWD 484
73.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$1,309KWD 406
55.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Mishref
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
7.14
-52.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Mishref: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $798 in Mishref. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $81.0 in Mishref. Groceries flip the comparison at $320 vs $180, with Mishref cheaper for home cooking.
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 Mishref: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Mishref?
Barcelona and Mishref differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $1,358 including rent). Mishref is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Mishref?
You'd need roughly $3,480 in Barcelona and $2,037 in Mishref to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Mishref?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $798 in Mishref. 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 Mishref?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $396 in Mishref. 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 77% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,358 in Mishref versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mishref but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Mishref the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Mishref?
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 Mishref safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Mishref 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 Mishref?
Expats usually find Mishref gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.