😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $1,987 in Steyr.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $2,782 in Steyr.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $3,576 in Steyr.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 19% more expensive than in Steyr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Steyr49% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Steyr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$16.03€13.88
6.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$51.3€44.43
32.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$11.61€10.05
17.48%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$3.33€2.88
-16.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$3.65€3.16
-22.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$2.38€2.06
-17.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$4.02€3.48
10.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$4.64€4.02
-0.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Steyr
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$1.18€1.03
7.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$1.94€1.68
9.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$1.95€1.69
2.05%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$3.83€3.31
-12.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$10.45€9.05
81.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$12.66€10.96
-24.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$17.20€14.90
8.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$2.64€2.29
0.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$2.10€1.82
11.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$2.82€2.44
-25.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$2.29€1.99
19.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$1.78€1.54
10.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.54€1.33
17.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$1.47€1.27
2.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.67€0.58
32.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$6.50€5.63
4.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$8.64€7.48
-8.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.25€1.08
9.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$1.48€1.28
62.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Steyr
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$2.70€2.34
7.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$48.83€42.28
-41.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$5.92€5.13
-22.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$2.04€1.77
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$35.06€30.37
-18.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$1.82€1.58
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$28.1K€24.3K
39.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$32.9K€28.5K
-1.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Steyr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$368€319
-49.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$19.70€17.06
13.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$36.83€31.90
-1.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Steyr
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$40.97€35.48
40.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
$26.12€22.62
-20.60%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$14.07€12.18
-23.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Steyr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$408€353
77.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$7,156€6,197
111.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Steyr
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$96.8€83.8
-9.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$39.25€33.99
-6.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$98.8€85.6
4.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$148€128
-19.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Steyr
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$739€640
106.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$663€574
85.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$920€797
196.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$916€793
116.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$4,058€3,514
84.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$3,430€2,970
52.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Steyr
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
$2,528€2,189
-5.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
3.91
-13.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Steyr: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $739 in Steyr. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Steyr pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $51.0 in Steyr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $298 per month, with Steyr 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 Steyr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Steyr?
Barcelona and Steyr differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $1,987 including rent). Steyr 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 6% lower in Steyr. 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 Steyr?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $739 in Steyr. 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 Steyr?
Childcare runs $725 in Barcelona versus $408 in Steyr. 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 7% 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 $1,987 in Steyr versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Steyr but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Steyr the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Steyr?
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 Steyr safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Steyr 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 Steyr?
Expats usually find Steyr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.