🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $2,535 in Port Arthur, TX.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $3,744 in Port Arthur, TX.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $4,954 in Port Arthur, TX.
🙂Living in Barcelona costs roughly 8% less than in Port Arthur, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, Port Arthur, TX89% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Port Arthur, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$18.65$18.65
-8.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$74.8$74.8
-7.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$10.79$10.79
27.71%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$4.98$4.98
-44.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$2.56$2.56
8.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$2.04$2.04
-2.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$5.93$5.93
-26.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$7.13$7.13
-33.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Port Arthur, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.03$1.03
25.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$3.43$3.43
-40.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$4.28$4.28
-53.50%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$4.21$4.21
-19.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$12.29$12.29
53.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$11.60$11.60
-19.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$15.39$15.39
24.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$4.87$4.87
-44.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.58$1.58
48.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$4.20$4.20
-49.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$4.85$4.85
-41.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$2.86$2.86
-31.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$2.87$2.87
-37.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$2.00$2.00
-27.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$2.19$2.19
-60.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$9.85$9.85
-31.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$14.01$14.01
-43.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.85$1.85
-24.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$3.26$3.26
-27.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Port Arthur, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$2.05$2.05
42.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$3.47$3.47
28.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$1.58$1.58
29.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$29.55$29.55
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$0.88$0.88
106.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$29.9K$29.9K
29.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$25.8K$25.8K
28.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Port Arthur, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$186$186
1.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$53.8$53.8
-57.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$67.3$67.3
-44.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Port Arthur, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$43.46$43.46
32.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$13.68$13.68
-20.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Port Arthur, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$1,312$1,312
-44.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$23.8K$23.8K
-38.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Port Arthur, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$50.4$50.4
76.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$40.31$40.31
-8.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$87.6$87.6
16.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$113$113
2.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Port Arthur, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$1,625$1,625
-3.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$1,365$1,365
-10.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$2,643$2,643
5.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$2,221$2,221
-11.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$2,727$2,727
184.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$2,402$2,402
115.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Port Arthur, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.51
-47.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Port Arthur, TX: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $1,625 in Port Arthur, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $75.0 in Port Arthur, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $387 per month, with Barcelona 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 Port Arthur, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Port Arthur, TX?
Barcelona and Port Arthur, TX differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $2,535 including rent). Barcelona 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 Port Arthur, TX?
You'd need roughly $3,505 in Barcelona and $3,802 in Port Arthur, TX 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 Port Arthur, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $1,625 in Port Arthur, TX. 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 Port Arthur, TX?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $1,312 in Port Arthur, TX. 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 Barcelona – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $75.0 in Port Arthur, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Barcelona is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Port Arthur, TX?
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 Port Arthur, TX safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Port Arthur, TX 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 Port Arthur, TX?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Port Arthur, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.