🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,278 in Irving, TX versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,359 in Irving, TX versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,440 in Irving, TX versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Irving, TX costs roughly 3% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Irving, TX70% above, Barcelona75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Irving, TX
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.21$14.21
$17.61€15.04
-19.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.0$66.0
$68.7€58.7
-3.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.82$10.82
$13.75€11.74
-21.31%
Cappuccino
$4.86$4.86
$2.76€2.36
76.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$2.78€2.38
-26.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33$1.33
$2.05€1.75
-35.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.97$5.97
$4.61€3.93
29.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96$5.96
$4.59€3.92
29.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Irving, TX
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94$0.94
$1.28€1.09
-26.56%
White Bread(500g)
$2.73$2.73
$2.11€1.80
29.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.16$3.16
$1.97€1.68
60.41%
Eggs
$2.91$2.91
$3.44€2.94
-15.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.26$10.26
$18.83€16.08
-45.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.98$10.98
$9.45€8.07
16.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.46$11.46
$19.01€16.24
-39.72%
Apples(1kg)
$3.61$3.61
$2.72€2.32
32.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63$1.63
$2.37€2.03
-31.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.51$3.51
$2.08€1.77
68.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.02$4.02
$2.76€2.36
45.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92$1.92
$1.97€1.68
-2.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.96$1.96
$1.79€1.53
9.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.70$1.70
$1.51€1.29
12.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12$2.12
$0.90€0.77
135.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.06$9.06
$6.76€5.77
34.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.99$9.99
$7.55€6.44
32.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$1.44€1.23
22.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34$2.34
$2.41€2.06
-2.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Irving, TX
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.93$2.93
$3.03€2.59
-3.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.39€24.25
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.80$2.80
$4.43€3.78
-36.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82$1.82
$2.05€1.75
-11.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.47$30.47
$29.33€25.05
3.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79$0.79
$1.89€1.61
-58.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K$30.2K
$38.7K€33.1K
-22.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K$24.8K
$32.4K€27.6K
-23.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irving, TX
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$198$198
$189€161
4.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.13$37.13
$22.21€18.96
67.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.9$67.9
$36.82€31.44
84.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Irving, TX
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.84$39.84
$58.0€49.52
-31.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.99€17.93
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.08$15.08
$11.05€9.44
36.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Irving, TX
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,594$1,594
$726€620
119.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K$23.3K
$15.2K€13.0K
53.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Irving, TX
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5$55.5
$88.3€75.4
-37.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.85$24.85
$36.98€31.58
-32.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.6$57.6
$103€87.6
-43.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9$97.9
$119€102
-17.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Irving, TX
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,419$1,419
$1,526€1,304
-7.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,217$1,217
$1,218€1,040
-0.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,521$2,521
$2,794€2,386
-9.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,098$2,098
$2,027€1,731
3.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,683$3,683
$7,094€6,058
-48.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,408$2,408
$4,849€4,141
-50.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Irving, TX
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,554$4,554
$2,404€2,053
89.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
3.39
90.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Irving, TX: April 25, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,419 in Irving, TX and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Irving, TX pays 89% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $66.0 in Irving, TX vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $320 per month, with Irving, TX 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
Irving, TX vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Irving, TX and Barcelona?
Irving, TX and Barcelona differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($2,278 vs $2,341 including rent). Irving, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Irving, TX or Barcelona?
Irving, TX pays 89% more on average, 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 Irving, TX and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,419 in Irving, TX 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 Irving, TX and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $1,594 in Irving, TX 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 Irving, TX – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,278 in Irving, TX versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Irving, TX but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Irving, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Irving, TX 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 Irving, TX or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Irving, TX 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: Irving, TX or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Irving, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Irving, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared