😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,583 in Cathedral City, CA versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,757 in Cathedral City, CA versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,931 in Cathedral City, CA versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
😐Living in Cathedral City, CA is roughly 10% more expensive than Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cathedral City, CA93% above, Barcelona75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cathedral City, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.26$19.26
$17.61€15.08
9.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2$76.2
$68.7€58.8
10.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.82$10.82
$13.75€11.77
-21.31%
Cappuccino
$5.10$5.10
$2.76€2.36
84.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48$2.48
$2.78€2.38
-10.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98$1.98
$2.05€1.75
-3.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.93$5.93
$4.61€3.94
28.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.81$6.81
$4.59€3.93
48.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cathedral City, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01$1.01
$1.28€1.10
-21.09%
White Bread(500g)
$3.41$3.41
$2.11€1.81
61.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.43$4.43
$1.97€1.69
124.87%
Eggs
$4.27$4.27
$3.44€2.95
24.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.02$12.02
$18.83€16.12
-36.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.48$11.48
$9.45€8.09
21.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.73$15.73
$19.01€16.27
-17.25%
Apples(1kg)
$4.94$4.94
$2.72€2.33
81.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64$1.64
$2.37€2.03
-30.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.15$4.15
$2.08€1.78
99.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.81$4.81
$2.76€2.36
74.28%
Potato(1kg)
$2.81$2.81
$1.97€1.69
42.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.87$2.87
$1.79€1.53
60.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03$2.03
$1.51€1.29
34.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.09$2.09
$0.90€0.77
132.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.68$9.68
$6.76€5.79
43.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.06$14.06
$7.55€6.46
86.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84$1.84
$1.44€1.23
27.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44$3.44
$2.41€2.06
42.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Cathedral City, CA
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.01$2.01
$3.03€2.59
-33.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.39€24.30
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.59$3.59
$4.43€3.79
-18.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.61$1.61
$2.05€1.76
-21.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.77$28.77
$29.33€25.11
-1.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84$0.84
$1.89€1.62
-55.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K$29.7K
$38.7K€33.2K
-23.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$32.4K€27.7K
-19.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cathedral City, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190$190
$189€161
0.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.4$53.4
$22.21€19.01
140.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.1$68.1
$36.82€31.52
85.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cathedral City, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.85$42.85
$58.0€49.64
-26.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.99€17.97
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.69$13.69
$11.05€9.46
23.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cathedral City, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,322$1,322
$726€622
81.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.9K$23.9K
$15.2K€13.0K
57.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cathedral City, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6$51.6
$88.3€75.6
-41.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.26$40.26
$36.98€31.66
8.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.4$88.4
$103€87.8
-13.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113$113
$119€102
-5.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cathedral City, CA
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,611$1,611
$1,526€1,307
5.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,344$1,344
$1,218€1,043
10.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,679$2,679
$2,794€2,392
-4.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,214$2,214
$2,027€1,735
9.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,788$2,788
$7,094€6,073
-60.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,450$2,450
$4,849€4,151
-49.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cathedral City, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,404€2,058
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
3.39
92.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cathedral City, CA: April 27, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,611 in Cathedral City, CA and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $76.0 in Cathedral City, CA vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 vs $320 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
Cathedral City, CA vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cathedral City, CA and Barcelona?
Cathedral City, CA and Barcelona differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($2,583 vs $2,341 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 Cathedral City, CA compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $3,875 in Cathedral City, CA and $3,512 in Barcelona 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 Cathedral City, CA and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,611 in Cathedral City, CA versus $1,526 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 Cathedral City, CA and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $1,322 in Cathedral City, CA versus $726 in Barcelona. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Barcelona – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $76.0 in Cathedral City, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,341 in Barcelona versus $2,583 in Cathedral City, CA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Cathedral City, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cathedral City, CA 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 Cathedral City, CA or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Cathedral City, CA 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: Cathedral City, CA or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Cathedral City, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Cathedral City, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared