Cost of Living Comparison Between Castro and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Castro and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $931 in Castro versus $2,482 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,474 in Castro versus $3,548 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,016 in Castro versus $4,613 in Barcelona.

Living in Castro costs roughly 63% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Castro is 33% below, Barcelona is 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.30 CLP 7,815

$18.42 €15.88

-54.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.78 CLP 45.0K

$69.4 €59.8

-31.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.02 CLP 5,662

$14.05 €12.11

-57.15%

Cappuccino

$1.63 CLP 1,531

$3.11 €2.68

-47.59%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 CLP 1,232

$2.96 €2.55

-55.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 CLP 1,031

$1.95 €1.69

-43.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.43 CLP 5,106

$3.99 €3.44

36.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.38 CLP 6,941

$4.62 €3.98

59.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 CLP 1,022

$1.32 €1.14

-17.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.86 CLP 3,628

$2.11 €1.82

82.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,230

$1.83 €1.57

-28.42%

Eggs

$4.25 CLP 3,997

$5.16 €4.45

-17.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 CLP 9,443

$17.56 €15.14

-42.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 CLP 4,070

$9.50 €8.19

-54.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.54 CLP 8,035

$19.93 €17.18

-57.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.47 CLP 1,380

$3.17 €2.73

-53.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 CLP 2,171

$2.21 €1.91

4.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,538

$2.61 €2.25

-37.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 CLP 1,965

$2.85 €2.46

-26.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 CLP 1,145

$2.17 €1.87

-43.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 €1.81

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 CLP 1,480

$1.62 €1.39

-3.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 CLP 1,540

$0.88 €0.76

86.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 CLP 3,729

$7.17 €6.18

-44.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 CLP 7,401

$8.33 €7.18

-5.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 997

$1.50 €1.29

-29.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 CLP 3,069

$2.75 €2.37

18.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 CLP 700

$3.14 €2.70

-76.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.25 €22.63

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 €2.78

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 €1.30

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.26 €30.39

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 CLP 1,321

$1.75 €1.51

-20.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$15.8K CLP 14.9M

$36.7K €31.6K

-56.81%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.4K CLP 18.3M

$31.7K €27.3K

-38.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$137 CLP 129.0K

$187 €161

-26.74%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.10 €13.01

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.49 CLP 29.6K

$37.60 €32.41

-16.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 €47.83

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.74 €14.43

Cinema Ticket

$11.71 €10.09

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,011 €871

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K €14.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.4 €78.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.00 €35.34

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.2 CLP 80.2K

$111 €95.3

-22.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 €109

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$376 CLP 353.8K

$1,704 €1,469

-77.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$301 CLP 282.9K

$1,299 €1,120

-76.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 CLP 991.6K

$2,588 €2,231

-59.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 CLP 582.8K

$1,929 €1,663

-67.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,732 €6,665

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,384 €4,641

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$643 CLP 605.1K

$2,374 €2,046

-72.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.16

121.52%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Castro: September 6, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $376 in Castro and $1,704 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 269% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $48.00 in Castro vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $333 per month, with Castro 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

Castro vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Castro and Barcelona differ by about 167% in total monthly costs ($931 vs $2,482 including rent). Castro is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 269% lower in Barcelona. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $376 in Castro versus $1,704 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Castro – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $931 per month in Castro versus $2,482 in Barcelona – a 167% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $931 in Castro versus $2,482 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Castro but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Castro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Castro 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.

Expats usually find Castro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 167% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.