Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Santa Monica, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Santa Monica, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Barcelona is 26.6% cheaper than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 47.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Barcelona is 20.9% cheaper than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 53.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.41 €15.03
$25.29 $25.29
-31.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7 €59.3
$99.5 $99.5
-30.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.71 €11.84
$12.3 $12.3
11.46%
Cappuccino
$2.78 €2.4
$5.68 $5.68
-51.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.8 €2.42
$2.88 $2.88
-2.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 €1.71
$2.3 $2.3
-13.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.43 €3.83
$8.59 $8.59
-48.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €3.91
$9.32 $9.32
-51.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.07
$1.18 $1.18
5.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 €1.75
$4.45 $4.45
-54.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 €1.71
$4.49 $4.49
-55.90%
Eggs
$3.46 €2.99
$7.19 $7.19
-51.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.32 €15.82
$12.47 $12.47
46.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.82 €8.47
$13.7 $13.7
-28.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.24 €16.61
$14.46 $14.46
33.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 €2.25
$5.37 $5.37
-51.40%
Banana (1kg)
$2.34 €2.02
$1.95 $1.95
20.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$3.97 $3.97
-46.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.77 €2.39
$5.73 $5.73
-51.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 €1.76
$2.98 $2.98
-31.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 €1.53
$2.45 $2.45
-27.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.5 €1.3
$1.82 $1.82
-17.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$2.12 $2.12
-59.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7 €6.04
$10.83 $10.83
-35.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.13 €6.16
$15.28 $15.28
-53.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 €1.24
$2.53 $2.53
-43.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €1.98
$5.34 $5.34
-57.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.02 €2.6
$2.08 $2.08
45.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.97 €25.01
$81.5 $81.5
-64.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.59 €3.96
$3.15 $3.15
45.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 €1.74
$1.71 $1.71
18.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.56 €25.53
$29.08 $29.08
1.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 €1.56
$1.24 $1.24
45.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K €33.1K
$23.8K $23.8K
61.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K €28K
$25.5K $25.5K
27.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 €164
$190 $190
-0.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.18 €19.15
$58.4 $58.4
-62.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37 €31.4
$67 $67
-45.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.4 €49.55
$122 $122
-53.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.95 €18.09
$44.73 $44.73
-53.16%
Cinema Ticket
$10.8 €9.33
$18.03 $18.03
-40.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$732 €632
$1,791 $1,791
-59.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K €13.1K
$14.7K $14.7K
2.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.8 €74.9
$62.8 $62.8
38.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.78 €31.76
$34.08 $34.08
7.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €88.2
$102 $102
0.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 €101
$153 $153
-23.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,581 €1,365
$3,279 $3,279
-51.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,230 €1,062
$2,892 $2,892
-57.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,707 €2,337
$6,850 $6,850
-60.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 €1,751
$5,897 $5,897
-65.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,602 €5,700
$10.8K $10.8K
-38.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,045 €4,356
$8,171 $8,171
-38.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,198 €1,898
$7,229 $7,229
-69.59%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Santa Monica, CA: October 27, 2025

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