😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $736 in Oskemen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,188 in Oskemen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $1,639 in Oskemen.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 222% more expensive than Oskemen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Oskemen is 45% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Oskemen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$3.95₸1,937
345.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$18.49₸9,061
270.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$3.43₸1,683
309.91%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$2.00₸980
39.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$0.80₸390
250.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.52₸255
296.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$1.34₸659
232.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$1.45₸710
217.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Oskemen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.09₸536
13.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$0.43₸212
372.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.14₸560
68.42%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$1.60₸782
106.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$7.66₸3,752
140.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$4.37₸2,142
117.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$6.81₸3,339
181.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$1.15₸564
129.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.81₸889
35.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$2.38₸1,168
-10.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$2.57₸1,258
10.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.61₸297
234.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$0.47₸228
293.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$0.30₸149
390.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.73₸359
15.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$1.99₸975
258.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$4.65₸2,278
69.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.33₸653
3.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$1.50₸734
54.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Oskemen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$0.21₸103
1319.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$1.01₸497
355.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$0.29₸142
613.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$2.12₸1,040
1276.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$0.46₸225
300.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$28.1K₸13.8M
38.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$27.0K₸13.2M
21.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Oskemen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$41.44₸20.3K
353.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$9.96₸4,881
130.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$16.59₸8,130
121.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Oskemen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$23.36₸11.4K
145.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
$17.33₸8,494
19.45%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$4.38₸2,146
155.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Oskemen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$58.3₸28.6K
1136.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$2,510₸1.2M
499.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Oskemen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$119₸58.3K
-27.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$82.8₸40.6K
-55.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$98.0₸48.0K
4.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$94.0₸46.0K
23.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Oskemen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$331₸162.3K
362.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$221₸108.3K
452.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$537₸263.3K
401.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$468₸229.2K
330.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
$1,008₸494.2K
616.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
$778₸381.1K
567.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Oskemen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
$751₸368.2K
213.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
19
-82.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Oskemen: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $331 in Oskemen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 214% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $18.00 in Oskemen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $162 per month, with Oskemen 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 Oskemen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Oskemen?
Barcelona and Oskemen differ by about 222% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $736 including rent). Oskemen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Oskemen?
Barcelona pays 214% 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 Oskemen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $331 in Oskemen. 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 Oskemen?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $58.3 in Oskemen. 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 Oskemen – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $736 in Oskemen versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Oskemen but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Oskemen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Oskemen?
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 Oskemen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Oskemen 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 Oskemen?
Expats usually find Oskemen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 222% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.