🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,495 in Barcelona versus $2,772 in Voorburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,550 in Barcelona versus $4,036 in Voorburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Barcelona versus $5,301 in Voorburg.
🌍Living in Barcelona costs roughly 10% less than in Voorburg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona82% above, Voorburg102% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Voorburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39€15.81
$27.09€23.29
-32.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.5
$91.5€78.7
-24.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.13€12.15
$13.73€11.81
2.91%
Cappuccino
$3.13€2.69
$4.55€3.92
-31.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.59
$3.98€3.42
-24.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$3.52€3.03
-44.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.00€3.44
$7.20€6.19
-44.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76€4.09
$6.24€5.37
-23.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Voorburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$1.50€1.29
-16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.86
$2.39€2.06
-9.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69€1.45
$2.93€2.52
-42.32%
Eggs
$4.93€4.24
$5.70€4.90
-13.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.37
$12.35€10.62
44.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61€8.26
$13.94€11.98
-31.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.34€16.63
$19.70€16.93
-1.83%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24€2.78
$3.39€2.91
-4.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.87
$2.67€2.29
-18.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67€2.30
$2.65€2.28
0.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77€2.38
$3.62€3.11
-23.48%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.90
$1.95€1.67
13.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19€1.88
$1.53€1.31
43.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52€1.31
$1.54€1.33
-1.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.79
$1.41€1.21
-34.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12€6.12
$14.85€12.77
-52.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.14€6.99
$7.14€6.13
14.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.58€1.36
-5.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.39
$2.59€2.22
7.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Voorburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.15€2.71
$3.46€2.97
-8.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.99€23.21
$105€90.2
-74.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.25€2.79
$4.71€4.05
-31.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50€1.29
$3.61€3.11
-58.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.89€30.00
$69.0€59.3
-49.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.50
$2.53€2.18
-30.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.5K
$42.2K€36.3K
-13.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K€26.6K
$41.2K€35.4K
-24.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Voorburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€161
$306€263
-38.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.44€13.27
$22.04€18.94
-29.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.80€32.49
$57.3€49.28
-34.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Voorburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.2€49.16
$44.57€38.32
28.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80€14.44
$22.14€19.04
-24.12%
Cinema Ticket
$11.58€9.95
$16.49€14.18
-29.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Voorburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,003€862
$2,727€2,344
-63.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0K€14.6K
$13.1K€11.2K
30.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Voorburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2€76.7
$98.4€84.6
-9.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.87€35.14
$40.67€34.96
0.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€94.5
$115€99.2
-4.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€105
$148€127
-17.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Voorburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,673€1,438
$1,438€1,236
16.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331€1,145
$1,370€1,178
-2.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,596€2,232
$2,490€2,141
4.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,950€1,676
$1,912€1,643
2.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,573€6,511
$5,634€4,844
34.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,370€4,617
$4,588€3,945
17.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Voorburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,402€2,065
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
3.49
-9.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Last update for Voorburg: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,673 in Barcelona and $1,438 in Voorburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $91.0 in Voorburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $360 per month, with Barcelona 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 Voorburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Voorburg?
Barcelona and Voorburg differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($2,495 vs $2,772 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Voorburg?
You'd need roughly $3,743 in Barcelona and $4,157 in Voorburg to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Voorburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,673 in Barcelona versus $1,438 in Voorburg. 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 Voorburg?
Childcare runs $1,003 in Barcelona versus $2,727 in Voorburg. 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 9% higher in Voorburg. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Barcelona is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Voorburg?
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 Voorburg safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Voorburg 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 Voorburg?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Voorburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.