😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,495 in Barcelona versus $2,286 in Provo, UT.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,550 in Barcelona versus $3,373 in Provo, UT.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Barcelona versus $4,460 in Provo, UT.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 9% more expensive than in Provo, UT, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona82% above, Provo, UT66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Provo, UT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39€15.83
$18.77$18.77
-2.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.5
$78.6$78.6
-11.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.13€12.16
$10.18$10.18
38.80%
Cappuccino
$3.13€2.70
$5.48$5.48
-42.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.59
$1.95$1.95
54.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$1.86$1.86
5.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.00€3.44
$5.04$5.04
-20.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76€4.10
$8.17$8.17
-41.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Provo, UT
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$0.99$0.99
26.26%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.86
$3.31$3.31
-34.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69€1.45
$3.28$3.28
-48.48%
Eggs
$4.93€4.24
$4.10$4.10
20.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.39
$8.25$8.25
116.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61€8.27
$5.75$5.75
67.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.34€16.64
$11.11$11.11
74.08%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24€2.78
$4.08$4.08
-20.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.87
$1.47$1.47
48.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67€2.30
$2.70$2.70
-1.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77€2.39
$2.89$2.89
-4.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.90
$3.16$3.16
-30.06%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19€1.88
$1.89$1.89
15.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52€1.31
$1.78$1.78
-14.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.79
$2.77$2.77
-66.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12€6.13
$10.59$10.59
-32.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.14€7.00
$16.62$16.62
-51.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$2.95$2.95
-49.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.39
$2.96$2.96
-6.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Provo, UT
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.15€2.71
$3.06$3.06
2.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.99€23.23
$86.1$86.1
-68.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.25€2.80
$3.52$3.52
-7.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50€1.29
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.89€30.03
$13.45$13.45
159.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.50
$1.02$1.02
71.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.5K
$32.9K$32.9K
11.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K€26.6K
$25.9K$25.9K
19.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Provo, UT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€161
$128$128
46.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.44€13.29
$44.83$44.83
-65.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.80€32.52
$64.0$64.0
-40.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Provo, UT
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.2€49.21
$22.25$22.25
156.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80€14.45
$19.81$19.81
-15.19%
Cinema Ticket
$11.58€9.96
$10.97$10.97
5.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Provo, UT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,003€863
$926$926
8.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0K€14.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Provo, UT
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2€76.8
$47.67$47.67
87.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.87€35.17
$55.3$55.3
-26.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€94.6
$64.5$64.5
70.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€106
$81.1$81.1
51.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Provo, UT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,673€1,440
$1,389$1,389
20.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331€1,146
$1,144$1,144
16.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,596€2,234
$1,856$1,856
39.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,950€1,678
$1,893$1,893
3.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,573€6,517
$2,391$2,391
216.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,370€4,621
$2,370$2,370
126.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Provo, UT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,402€2,067
$3,448$3,448
-30.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
6
-47.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Last update for Provo, UT: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,673 in Barcelona and $1,389 in Provo, UT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Provo, UT pays 44% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $79.0 in Provo, UT. Groceries flip the comparison at $332 vs $321, with Provo, UT 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 Provo, UT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Provo, UT?
Barcelona and Provo, UT differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($2,495 vs $2,286 including rent). Provo, UT is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 44% lower in Provo, UT. 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 in Provo, UT?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,673 in Barcelona versus $1,389 in Provo, UT. 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 Provo, UT?
Childcare runs $1,003 in Barcelona versus $926 in Provo, UT. 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 3% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,286 in Provo, UT versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Provo, UT but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Provo, UT the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Provo, UT?
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 Provo, UT safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Provo, UT 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 Provo, UT?
Expats usually find Provo, UT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.