🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,311 in Bregenz versus $2,359 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,423 in Bregenz versus $3,498 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,535 in Bregenz versus $4,638 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Bregenz costs roughly 2% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bregenz74% above, Barcelona77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bregenz
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.47€16.00
$17.15€14.86
7.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.7€70.8
$68.1€58.9
20.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.03
$13.64€11.82
-15.10%
Cappuccino
$4.13€3.58
$2.78€2.41
48.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66€3.17
$2.82€2.44
29.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22€2.79
$1.96€1.70
64.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.06€4.38
$4.43€3.84
14.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71€4.08
$4.61€3.99
2.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bregenz
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79€1.55
$1.27€1.10
40.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.96€2.57
$2.13€1.85
38.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15€1.86
$1.99€1.72
8.04%
Eggs
$4.34€3.76
$3.37€2.92
28.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.26€14.08
$18.96€16.42
-14.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.69€11.86
$9.53€8.26
43.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.94€18.13
$18.73€16.22
11.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03€2.63
$2.65€2.29
14.34%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06€1.78
$2.35€2.04
-12.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.37€2.06
$2.09€1.81
13.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.56€3.08
$2.73€2.37
30.40%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$1.96€1.70
3.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.57
$1.81€1.56
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.79€1.55
$1.51€1.31
18.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70€0.60
$0.89€0.77
-21.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.99€6.05
$6.78€5.87
3.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.75€6.72
$7.92€6.86
-2.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.15
$1.37€1.19
-3.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.37
$2.40€2.08
-34.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Bregenz
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.04€2.63
$2.91€2.52
4.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.09€40.78
$28.66€24.82
64.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.89€8.57
$4.58€3.96
115.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.84
$2.04€1.77
4.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.38€29.78
$28.72€24.87
19.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72€1.49
$1.82€1.58
-5.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K€24.9K
$39.3K€34.0K
-26.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K€31.0K
$32.5K€28.1K
10.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bregenz
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$417€361
$187€162
123.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.58€19.55
$22.29€19.30
1.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.53€29.90
$36.37€31.50
-5.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bregenz
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.0€55.4
$57.5€49.82
11.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.13€22.63
$20.74€17.96
25.99%
Cinema Ticket
$14.43€12.49
$10.77€9.33
33.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bregenz
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$892€772
$725€628
22.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,291€6,314
$15.2K€13.1K
-51.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bregenz
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.51€39.41
$87.9€76.1
-48.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.05€22.56
$36.81€31.88
-29.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.9€56.2
$103€89.6
-37.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139€121
$119€103
17.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bregenz
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,054€913
$1,524€1,319
-30.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$871€754
$1,227€1,062
-28.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,763€1,527
$2,727€2,362
-35.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,576€1,365
$1,984€1,718
-20.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,456€6,457
$7,469€6,468
-0.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,914€5,121
$5,243€4,541
12.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bregenz
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,440€2,113
$2,393€2,072
1.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.75
3.39
10.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bregenz: July 26, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,054 in Bregenz and $1,524 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bregenz pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $82.0 in Bregenz vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $319 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
Bregenz vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bregenz and in Barcelona?
Bregenz and Barcelona differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($2,311 vs $2,359 including rent). Bregenz is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bregenz or Barcelona?
Average pay runs 2% higher in Bregenz, 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 Bregenz and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,054 in Bregenz versus $1,524 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Bregenz and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $892 in Bregenz versus $725 in Barcelona. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,311 in Bregenz versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Bregenz but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Bregenz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bregenz and Barcelona?
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 Bregenz or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bregenz and Barcelona 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: Bregenz or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Bregenz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.