Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Barcelona

😐 Solo nomad: Des Moines, IA is 21.4% more expensive than Barcelona without rent, and 9.8% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Des Moines, IA is 13.4% more expensive than Barcelona without rent, and 7.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Des Moines, IA
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.83 $15.83
$17.41 €15.03
-9.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4 $79.4
$68.7 €59.3
15.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.17 $12.17
$13.71 €11.84
-11.23%
Cappuccino
$4.78 $4.78
$2.78 €2.4
71.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$2.8 €2.42
-17.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.98 €1.71
-2.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.86 $4.86
$4.43 €3.83
9.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.97 $6.97
$4.53 €3.91
53.86%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Des Moines, IA
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.24 €1.07
-21.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.03 €1.75
26.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.98 €1.71
14.14%
Eggs
$3.72 $3.72
$3.46 €2.99
7.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.89 $12.89
$18.32 €15.82
-29.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.58 $10.58
$9.82 €8.47
7.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.82 $12.82
$19.24 €16.61
-33.37%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$2.61 €2.25
65.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 $1.44
$2.34 €2.02
-38.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$2.11 €1.82
77.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.61 $3.61
$2.77 €2.39
30.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.04 €1.76
-18.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.77 €1.53
67.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.5 €1.3
52.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.85 €0.73
27.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17 $7.17
$7 €6.04
2.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.95 $13.95
$7.13 €6.16
95.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.43 €1.24
24.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11 $4.11
$2.29 €1.98
79.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Des Moines, IA
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.7 $1.7
$3.02 €2.6
-43.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57 $57
$28.97 €25.01
96.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.94 $1.94
$4.59 €3.96
-57.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 $1.23
$2.02 €1.74
-39.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.71 $19.71
$29.56 €25.53
-33.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.81 €1.56
-55.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$38.4K €33.1K
-33.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$32.4K €28K
-23.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Des Moines, IA
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 $145
$190 €164
-23.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.1 $52.1
$22.18 €19.15
134.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.2 $54.2
$36.37 €31.4
49.02%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Des Moines, IA
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.1 $66.1
$57.4 €49.55
15.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.16 $20.16
$20.95 €18.09
-3.77%
Cinema Ticket
$15.29 $15.29
$10.8 €9.33
41.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Des Moines, IA
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,380 $1,380
$732 €632
88.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12K $12K
$15.1K €13.1K
-20.67%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Des Moines, IA
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53 $53
$86.8 €74.9
-38.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.04 $42.04
$36.78 €31.76
14.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74 $74
$102 €88.2
-27.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 $127
$117 €101
8.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Des Moines, IA
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 $1,226
$1,581 €1,365
-22.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$896 $896
$1,230 €1,062
-27.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,740 $1,740
$2,707 €2,337
-35.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,494 $1,494
$2,028 €1,751
-26.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,284 $2,284
$6,602 €5,700
-65.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,291 $2,291
$5,045 €4,356
-54.58%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Des Moines, IA
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,655 $3,655
$2,198 €1,898
66.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
3.39
91.74%

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

Last update for Des Moines, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Barcelona: October 28, 2025

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