🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $508 in Karawang versus $2,337 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $755 in Karawang versus $3,468 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,001 in Karawang versus $4,599 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Karawang costs roughly 78% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Karawang is 62% below, Barcelona is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.27Rp 22.8K
$17.08€14.72
-92.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.97Rp 160.7K
$69.2€59.7
-87.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.36Rp 60.3K
$13.78€11.87
-75.62%
Cappuccino
$1.45Rp 26.0K
$2.76€2.37
-47.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47Rp 8,442
$2.79€2.40
-83.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24Rp 4,314
$1.99€1.72
-87.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47Rp 62.2K
$4.36€3.76
-20.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46Rp 62.0K
$4.74€4.09
-27.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Rp 21.8K
$1.29€1.11
-6.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.06Rp 19.0K
$2.05€1.77
-48.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.89Rp 15.9K
$1.99€1.71
-55.28%
Eggs
$1.52Rp 27.3K
$3.39€2.92
-55.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.99Rp 53.5K
$18.81€16.21
-84.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.98Rp 53.4K
$9.36€8.07
-68.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.65Rp 137.0K
$19.12€16.48
-59.99%
Apples(1kg)
$1.96Rp 35.2K
$2.70€2.32
-27.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20Rp 21.4K
$2.34€2.02
-48.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39Rp 25.0K
$2.12€1.83
-34.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.53Rp 9,546
$2.85€2.46
-81.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03Rp 18.5K
$1.97€1.70
-47.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66Rp 29.7K
$1.80€1.55
-7.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96Rp 17.2K
$1.45€1.25
-33.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,530
$0.86€0.74
-51.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.61Rp 46.8K
$6.78€5.84
-61.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.71Rp 388.9K
$7.90€6.81
174.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10Rp 37.5K
$1.39€1.20
51.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46Rp 61.9K
$2.37€2.04
45.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71Rp 12.6K
$2.92€2.52
-75.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.08Rp 180.6K
$28.69€24.72
-64.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71Rp 12.8K
$4.46€3.84
-84.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77Rp 13.8K
$2.05€1.77
-62.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.19Rp 21.4K
$29.55€25.46
-95.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.3K
$1.82€1.56
-53.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KRp 442.6M
$38.8K€33.5K
-36.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KRp 462.5M
$33.1K€28.5K
-22.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.12Rp 772.6K
$189€163
-77.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.55Rp 81.5K
$22.80€19.65
-80.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.66Rp 244.7K
$37.59€32.39
-63.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.04Rp 394.9K
$57.7€49.75
-61.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.13Rp 271.1K
$20.74€17.87
-27.05%
Cinema Ticket
$3.00Rp 53.8K
$10.82€9.33
-72.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.25Rp 864.4K
$728€628
-93.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,474Rp 133.9M
$14.8K€12.7K
-49.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.29Rp 327.6K
$88.6€76.4
-79.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.36Rp 543.9K
$36.85€31.75
-17.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$52.8Rp 945.6K
$102€87.9
-48.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.4Rp 974.5K
$116€100
-53.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$154Rp 2.8M
$1,569€1,352
-90.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$77.6Rp 1.4M
$1,218€1,050
-93.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$245Rp 4.4M
$2,795€2,409
-91.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$123Rp 2.2M
$1,975€1,702
-93.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,141Rp 20.4M
$7,754€6,680
-85.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$643Rp 11.5M
$5,176€4,460
-87.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$408Rp 7.3M
$2,343€2,019
-82.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
3.39
169.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karawang: June 7, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $154 in Karawang and $1,569 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 474% 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: $9.00 in Karawang vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $319 per month, with Karawang 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
Karawang vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Karawang and Barcelona?
Karawang and Barcelona differ by about 360% in total monthly costs ($508 vs $2,337 including rent). Karawang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Barcelona earns 474% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Karawang and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $154 in Karawang versus $1,569 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 Karawang and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $48.25 in Karawang versus $728 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 77% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $508 in Karawang versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Karawang but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Karawang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Karawang 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 Karawang or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Karawang 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: Karawang or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Karawang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 360% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.