😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,441 in Barcelona versus $1,539 in Rauma.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,477 in Barcelona versus $2,523 in Rauma.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,513 in Barcelona versus $3,508 in Rauma.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 59% more expensive than in Rauma, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona81% above, Rauma14% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Rauma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.35€16.31
$18.16€16.14
1.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.9€59.5
$115€103
-42.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€12.22
$13.83€12.29
-0.58%
Cappuccino
$3.17€2.82
$5.33€4.74
-40.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88€2.56
$3.38€3.01
-14.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.73
$2.55€2.27
-23.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.89€3.46
$10.30€9.15
-62.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50€4.00
$8.94€7.94
-49.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Rauma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.14
$0.92€0.82
39.13%
White Bread(500g)
$2.07€1.84
$1.73€1.54
19.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79€1.59
$1.11€0.99
61.26%
Eggs
$5.04€4.48
$2.57€2.29
96.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.29€15.37
$6.96€6.19
148.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.41€8.36
$9.25€8.22
1.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.40€17.24
$25.36€22.54
-23.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18€2.82
$0.74€0.66
329.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09€1.86
$2.21€1.97
-5.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64€2.35
$2.23€1.99
18.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.83€2.52
$1.11€0.99
154.95%
Potato(1kg)
$2.20€1.96
$1.24€1.10
77.42%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.90
$1.68€1.50
27.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59€1.42
$2.30€2.04
-30.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93€0.83
$1.69€1.50
-44.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.25€6.45
$14.11€12.54
-48.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.00€7.11
$15.91€14.14
-49.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.31
$3.75€3.34
-60.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77€2.46
$3.93€3.49
-29.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Rauma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94€2.61
$2.28€2.03
28.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.97€23.08
$46.36€41.20
-43.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.06€2.72
$7.89€7.01
-61.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.34
$1.33€1.18
13.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.08€30.29
$78.2€69.5
-56.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71€1.52
$2.30€2.04
-25.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K€32.2K
$36.9K€32.8K
-1.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K€27.2K
$38.6K€34.3K
-20.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Rauma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183€163
$60.6€53.9
202.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.76€13.12
$26.93€23.93
-45.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.68€32.60
$23.48€20.87
56.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Rauma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8€49.63
$45.34€40.30
23.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.50€14.67
$14.63€13.01
12.78%
Cinema Ticket
$11.30€10.04
$15.15€13.47
-25.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Rauma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$983€873
$173€154
467.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.7K€14.8K
$12.9K€11.5K
29.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Rauma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.9€81.7
$93.5€83.1
-1.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.15€35.68
$43.88€39.00
-8.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€96.4
$109€96.5
-0.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€109
$152€135
-19.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Rauma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,689€1,501
$577€513
192.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,323€1,176
$479€426
176.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,617€2,326
$923€820
183.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,924€1,710
$681€605
182.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,336€6,520
$4,388€3,900
67.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,253€4,669
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Rauma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,313€2,056
$2,633€2,340
-12.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
3.61
-12.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 27, 2026
Last update for Rauma: September 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,689 in Barcelona and $577 in Rauma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rauma pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Barcelona vs $115 in Rauma. Groceries flip the comparison at $328 vs $311, with Rauma 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 Rauma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Rauma?
Barcelona and Rauma differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($2,441 vs $1,539 including rent). Rauma 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 14% lower in Rauma. 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 Rauma?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,689 in Barcelona versus $577 in Rauma. 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 Rauma?
Childcare runs $983 in Barcelona versus $173 in Rauma. 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 6% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,539 in Rauma versus $2,441 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rauma but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Rauma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Rauma?
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 Rauma safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Rauma 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 Rauma?
Expats usually find Rauma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.