😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,049 in Kailua, HI versus $2,320 in Barcelona.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,926 in Kailua, HI versus $3,426 in Barcelona.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,804 in Kailua, HI versus $4,532 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Kailua, HI is roughly 74% more expensive than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kailua, HI203% above, Barcelona74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kailua, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.85$20.85
$17.66€15.45
18.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.1$98.1
$69.7€61.0
40.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.38$9.38
$14.16€12.39
-33.76%
Cappuccino
$6.67$6.67
$2.80€2.45
138.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95$2.95
$2.81€2.46
4.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03$2.03
$2.06€1.81
-1.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.23$8.23
$4.60€4.02
78.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.89$8.89
$4.69€4.10
89.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kailua, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.03$2.03
$1.23€1.08
65.04%
White Bread(500g)
$6.75$6.75
$2.03€1.78
232.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$7.36$7.36
$1.98€1.73
271.72%
Eggs
$6.84$6.84
$3.49€3.05
95.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.91$12.91
$18.33€16.04
-29.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$18.11$18.11
$9.83€8.60
84.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.77$19.77
$19.13€16.73
3.35%
Apples(1kg)
$6.98$6.98
$2.73€2.38
155.68%
Banana(1kg)
$4.00$4.00
$2.38€2.09
68.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.65$6.65
$2.08€1.82
219.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$8.34$8.34
$2.75€2.41
203.27%
Potato(1kg)
$3.79$3.79
$1.96€1.72
93.37%
Onion(1kg)
$4.52$4.52
$1.79€1.57
152.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.79$4.79
$1.48€1.29
223.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.05$3.05
$0.91€0.80
235.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.99$11.99
$7.13€6.24
68.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.03$13.03
$7.88€6.89
65.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53$2.53
$1.38€1.21
83.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12$2.12
$2.39€2.09
-11.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Kailua, HI
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.97$3.97
$3.01€2.63
31.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.5$88.5
$29.35€25.68
201.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.46$3.46
$4.36€3.82
-20.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.56$2.56
$2.13€1.86
20.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$45.12$45.12
$29.60€25.90
52.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27$1.27
$1.82€1.59
-30.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K$30.0K
$37.9K€33.1K
-20.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K$24.7K
$32.4K€28.3K
-23.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kailua, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$230$230
$189€165
21.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.5$50.5
$22.29€19.50
126.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.0$68.0
$37.16€32.51
83.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kailua, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8$68.8
$58.0€50.8
18.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.29$40.29
$20.66€18.08
95.01%
Cinema Ticket
$16.05$16.05
$10.87€9.51
47.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kailua, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,482$1,482
$706€618
109.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.2K$20.2K
$14.9K€13.0K
35.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kailua, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.6$56.6
$89.4€78.3
-36.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.0$60.0
$36.60€32.02
63.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104$104
$104€91.0
0.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129$129
$119€104
7.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kailua, HI
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712$2,712
$1,579€1,381
71.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,369$2,369
$1,238€1,083
91.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,344$4,344
$2,712€2,373
60.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,979$3,979
$2,039€1,784
95.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.5K$12.5K
$7,527€6,585
66.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$9,972$9,972
$5,239€4,584
90.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kailua, HI
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,746$4,746
$2,364€2,068
100.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.56
3.39
93.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kailua, HI: July 12, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,712 in Kailua, HI and $1,579 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kailua, HI pays 101% 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: $98.0 in Kailua, HI vs $70.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $579 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
Kailua, HI vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kailua, HI and in Barcelona?
Kailua, HI and Barcelona differ by about 74% in total monthly costs ($4,049 vs $2,320 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kailua, HI or Barcelona?
Average pay runs 101% higher in Kailua, HI, 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 Kailua, HI and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,712 in Kailua, HI versus $1,579 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 Kailua, HI and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $1,482 in Kailua, HI versus $706 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 81% higher in Kailua, HI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,320 in Barcelona versus $4,049 in Kailua, HI, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Kailua, HI. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kailua, HI 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 Kailua, HI or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kailua, HI 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: Kailua, HI or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Kailua, HI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kailua, HI vs other spots: cost of living compared