πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,597 in SkuteΔ.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $2,288 in SkuteΔ.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $2,978 in SkuteΔ.
πLiving in Barcelona is roughly 48% more expensive than SkuteΔ, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, SkuteΔ19% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Barcelona
SkuteΔ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58β¬15.14
$8.77KΔΒ 183
100.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4β¬58.9
$44.12KΔΒ 920
55.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06β¬12.10
$8.96KΔΒ 187
56.92%
Cappuccino
$2.78β¬2.39
$2.97KΔΒ 61.9
-6.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80β¬2.41
$1.90KΔΒ 39.65
47.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06β¬1.78
$1.39KΔΒ 29.04
48.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46β¬3.84
$2.33KΔΒ 48.65
91.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61β¬3.97
$2.79KΔΒ 58.2
65.23%
π Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
SkuteΔ
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24β¬1.07
$1.15KΔΒ 23.89
7.83%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03β¬1.75
$1.46KΔΒ 30.34
39.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92β¬1.65
$2.33KΔΒ 48.58
-17.60%
Eggs
$3.31β¬2.85
$3.02KΔΒ 63.0
9.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43β¬15.87
$12.29KΔΒ 256
49.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49β¬8.17
$9.14KΔΒ 191
3.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16β¬16.50
$12.99KΔΒ 271
47.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64β¬2.27
$1.71KΔΒ 35.60
54.39%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45β¬2.11
$1.76KΔΒ 36.73
39.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12β¬1.83
$2.19KΔΒ 45.56
-3.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85β¬2.45
$3.52KΔΒ 73.3
-19.03%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04β¬1.75
$1.25KΔΒ 26.12
63.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85β¬1.59
$1.19KΔΒ 24.86
55.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47β¬1.27
$1.54KΔΒ 32.05
-4.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84β¬0.73
$0.75KΔΒ 15.68
12.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14β¬6.15
$6.98KΔΒ 145
2.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88β¬6.79
$7.54KΔΒ 157
4.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38β¬1.19
$0.92KΔΒ 19.16
50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31β¬1.99
$1.93KΔΒ 40.15
19.69%
π Getting Around
Barcelona
SkuteΔ
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98β¬2.57
$1.16KΔΒ 24.15
156.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26β¬25.20
$26.05KΔΒ 543
12.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60β¬3.96
$2.20KΔΒ 45.77
109.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07β¬1.78
$1.33KΔΒ 27.64
55.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18β¬25.13
$14.42KΔΒ 301
102.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84β¬1.58
$1.74KΔΒ 36.23
5.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0Kβ¬33.6K
$28.4KKΔΒ 592.2K
37.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7Kβ¬28.2K
$30.0KKΔΒ 626.4K
8.83%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
SkuteΔ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188β¬162
$288KΔΒ 6,014
-34.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93β¬19.75
$27.13KΔΒ 566
-15.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71β¬31.61
$20.92KΔΒ 436
75.48%
π Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
SkuteΔ
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4β¬49.41
$53.4KΔΒ 1,113
7.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70β¬17.82
$16.62KΔΒ 346
24.55%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19β¬9.64
$10.22KΔΒ 213
9.49%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
SkuteΔ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721β¬621
$411KΔΒ 8,569
75.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0Kβ¬13.0K
$10.2KKΔΒ 212.3K
47.70%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
SkuteΔ
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2β¬74.2
$81.6KΔΒ 1,701
5.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07β¬31.92
$37.22KΔΒ 776
-0.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102β¬87.9
$94.6KΔΒ 1,972
7.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116β¬99.8
$109KΔΒ 2,279
6.02%
π Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
SkuteΔ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534β¬1,321
$672KΔΒ 14.0K
128.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220β¬1,051
$561KΔΒ 11.7K
117.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696β¬2,321
$1,153KΔΒ 24.0K
133.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013β¬1,734
$864KΔΒ 18.0K
133.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220β¬6,217
$4,499KΔΒ 93.8K
60.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189β¬4,468
$3,507KΔΒ 73.1K
47.94%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
SkuteΔ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359β¬2,032
$1,325KΔΒ 27.6K
78.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.45
-37.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for SkuteΔ: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $672 in SkuteΔ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Barcelona pays 78% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $44.00 in SkuteΔ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $259 per month, with SkuteΔ 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 SkuteΔ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and SkuteΔ?
Barcelona and SkuteΔ differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,597 including rent). SkuteΔ is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or SkuteΔ?
Barcelona pays 78% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and SkuteΔ?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $672 in SkuteΔ. 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 SkuteΔ?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $411 in SkuteΔ. 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 22% 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 $1,597 in SkuteΔ versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in SkuteΔ but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes SkuteΔ the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and SkuteΔ?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or SkuteΔ safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and SkuteΔ 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 SkuteΔ?
Expats usually find SkuteΔ gentler on the wallet β expenses run 48% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.