😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,942 in Peoria, IL.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $2,921 in Peoria, IL.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $3,899 in Peoria, IL.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 22% more expensive than Peoria, IL, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Peoria, IL45% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Peoria, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.14
$17.20$17.20
2.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$60.1$60.1
13.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.10
$8.03$8.03
75.09%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$4.83$4.83
-42.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$1.91$1.91
46.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$1.05$1.05
96.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$4.46$4.46
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.97
$4.97$4.97
-7.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Peoria, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$0.81$0.81
53.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.75
$2.71$2.71
-25.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$4.54$4.54
-57.71%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$3.09$3.09
7.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.87
$9.41$9.41
95.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.17
$10.68$10.68
-11.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.50
$14.19$14.19
35.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$4.22$4.22
-37.44%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.21$1.21
102.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$4.96$4.96
-57.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$4.75$4.75
-40.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$2.59$2.59
-21.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$2.36$2.36
-21.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.27
$1.94$1.94
-24.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$2.20$2.20
-61.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.15
$8.63$8.63
-17.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.79
$12.68$12.68
-37.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$2.14$2.14
-35.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$3.31$3.31
-30.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Peoria, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.57
$0.97$0.97
207.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.20
$39.43$39.43
-25.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.96
$4.66$4.66
-1.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$2.21$2.21
-6.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.13
$17.26$17.26
69.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$0.84$0.84
119.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$27.3K$27.3K
43.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$27.1K$27.1K
20.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Peoria, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$211$211
-10.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.75
$50.3$50.3
-54.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.61
$65.6$65.6
-44.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Peoria, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.41
$38.43$38.43
49.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.82
$9.94$9.94
108.25%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.64
$11.24$11.24
-0.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Peoria, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€621
$949$949
-24.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€13.0K
$15.9K$15.9K
-5.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Peoria, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$63.7$63.7
35.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.92
$37.06$37.06
0.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$76.0$76.0
34.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.8
$117$117
-0.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Peoria, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,321
$977$977
56.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,051
$781$781
56.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,321
$1,559$1,559
72.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,734
$1,271$1,271
58.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,217
$1,095$1,095
559.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,468
$1,078$1,078
381.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Peoria, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,032
$4,102$4,102
-42.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.49
-47.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Peoria, IL: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $977 in Peoria, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Peoria, IL pays 74% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $60.0 in Peoria, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $318 vs $351, with Barcelona 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 Peoria, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Peoria, IL?
Barcelona and Peoria, IL differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,942 including rent). Peoria, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Peoria, IL earns 74% 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 Peoria, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $977 in Peoria, 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 Peoria, IL?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $949 in Peoria, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,942 in Peoria, IL versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Peoria, IL but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Peoria, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Peoria, 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 Peoria, IL safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Peoria, 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 Peoria, IL?
Expats usually find Peoria, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.