🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $2,997 in Naperville, IL.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $4,035 in Naperville, IL.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $5,073 in Naperville, IL.
🙂Living in Barcelona costs roughly 22% less than in Naperville, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona75% above, Naperville, IL124% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Naperville, IL
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$14.81$14.81
18.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$60.1$60.1
14.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$9.97$9.97
37.91%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$4.28$4.28
-35.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$2.35$2.35
18.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$2.32$2.32
-11.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$4.23$4.23
8.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$5.85$5.85
-21.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Naperville, IL
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$0.77$0.77
66.23%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$4.52$4.52
-53.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$3.25$3.25
-39.38%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$4.78$4.78
-28.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$7.59$7.59
148.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$11.14$11.14
-15.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$11.56$11.56
64.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$5.84$5.84
-53.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$1.64$1.64
44.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$2.96$2.96
-29.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$3.46$3.46
-20.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.24$1.24
58.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$2.36$2.36
-24.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$1.68$1.68
-10.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$1.46$1.46
-38.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$8.28$8.28
-18.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$8.37$8.37
-9.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.69$1.69
-14.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$3.78$3.78
-36.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Naperville, IL
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$6.05$6.05
-49.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
$129$129
-77.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$5.14$5.14
-13.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$1.70$1.70
20.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$50.7$50.7
-42.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$0.90$0.90
110.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$24.3K$24.3K
59.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$25.6K$25.6K
26.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Naperville, IL
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$172$172
9.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$51.8$51.8
-57.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$50.7$50.7
-27.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Naperville, IL
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$100$100
-42.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$11.16$11.16
-0.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Naperville, IL
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$938$938
-22.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$23.3K$23.3K
-34.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Naperville, IL
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$44.38$44.38
99.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$46.60$46.60
-20.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$66.3$66.3
54.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$98.9$98.9
20.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Naperville, IL
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$1,986$1,986
-23.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$1,652$1,652
-26.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$3,331$3,331
-16.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$2,387$2,387
-15.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$2,271$2,271
212.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$2,262$2,262
114.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Naperville, IL
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$6,590$6,590
-63.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.52
-48.01%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Naperville, IL: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $1,986 in Naperville, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Naperville, IL pays 174% 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 $60.0 in Naperville, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $320 vs $332, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Barcelona vs Naperville, IL: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Naperville, IL?
Barcelona and Naperville, IL differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $2,997 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Naperville, IL earns 174% less. 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 Naperville, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $1,986 in Naperville, IL. 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 Naperville, IL?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $938 in Naperville, IL. 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 4% higher in Naperville, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,341 in Barcelona versus $2,997 in Naperville, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Naperville, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Naperville, IL?
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 Naperville, IL safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Naperville, IL 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 Naperville, IL?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Naperville, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Barcelona vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado