🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $454 in Karawang versus $2,482 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $830 in Karawang versus $3,548 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,205 in Karawang versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Karawang costs roughly 82% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Karawang is 67% below, Barcelona is 80% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.38Rp 24.3K
$18.42€15.88
-92.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.27Rp 198.4K
$69.4€59.8
-83.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.48Rp 61.3K
$14.05€12.11
-75.23%
Cappuccino
$1.54Rp 27.1K
$3.11€2.68
-50.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,686
$2.96€2.55
-85.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22Rp 3,874
$1.95€1.69
-88.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15Rp 55.5K
$3.99€3.44
-21.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04Rp 53.6K
$4.62€3.98
-34.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10Rp 19.3K
$1.32€1.14
-16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99Rp 17.5K
$2.11€1.82
-53.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82Rp 14.5K
$1.83€1.57
-55.19%
Eggs
$1.43Rp 25.3K
$5.16€4.45
-72.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.75Rp 48.4K
$17.56€15.14
-84.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90Rp 51.0K
$9.50€8.19
-69.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.83Rp 137.8K
$19.93€17.18
-60.71%
Apples(1kg)
$1.85Rp 32.6K
$3.17€2.73
-41.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.04Rp 18.3K
$2.21€1.91
-52.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28Rp 22.6K
$2.61€2.25
-50.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52Rp 9,198
$2.85€2.46
-81.75%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97Rp 17.1K
$2.17€1.87
-55.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.58Rp 27.8K
$2.11€1.81
-25.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67Rp 11.7K
$1.62€1.39
-58.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,702
$0.88€0.76
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79Rp 49.1K
$7.17€6.18
-61.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.16Rp 390.1K
$8.33€7.18
166.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87Rp 32.9K
$1.50€1.29
24.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24Rp 57.1K
$2.75€2.37
17.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59Rp 10.4K
$3.14€2.70
-81.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.25€22.63
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86Rp 15.2K
$3.22€2.78
-73.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53Rp 9,298
$1.51€1.30
-64.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.14Rp 20.1K
$35.26€30.39
-96.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.7K
$1.75€1.51
-55.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KRp 371.8M
$36.7K€31.6K
-42.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7KRp 505.9M
$31.7K€27.3K
-9.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.67Rp 592.8K
$187€161
-82.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.45Rp 78.4K
$15.10€13.01
-70.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.80Rp 225.3K
$37.60€32.41
-65.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.43Rp 359.7K
$55.5€47.83
-63.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.71Rp 153.3K
$16.74€14.43
-47.97%
Cinema Ticket
$2.77Rp 48.8K
$11.71€10.09
-76.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$44.35Rp 780.8K
$1,011€871
-95.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,466Rp 149.0M
$17.1K€14.7K
-50.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.04Rp 300.0K
$91.4€78.8
-81.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.73Rp 505.9K
$41.00€35.34
-29.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.3Rp 885.5K
$111€95.3
-54.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.96Rp 861.9K
$126€109
-61.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$142Rp 2.5M
$1,704€1,469
-91.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$71.5Rp 1.3M
$1,299€1,120
-94.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$558Rp 9.8M
$2,588€2,231
-78.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$372Rp 6.6M
$1,929€1,663
-80.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,185Rp 20.9M
$7,732€6,665
-84.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$675Rp 11.9M
$5,384€4,641
-87.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karawang
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$415Rp 7.3M
$2,374€2,046
-82.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.38
3.16
260.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karawang: September 7, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $142 in Karawang and $1,704 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 472% 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: $11.00 in Karawang vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $333 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 in Barcelona?
Karawang and Barcelona differ by about 447% in total monthly costs ($454 vs $2,482 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, salaries run 472% lower in Barcelona. 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 in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $142 in Karawang versus $1,704 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 $44.35 in Karawang versus $1,011 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 Karawang – a meal for two runs $11.00 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 $1,000 per month?
At $454 in Karawang versus $2,482 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 447% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.