πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,346 in Karratha versus $2,336 in Barcelona.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,405 in Karratha versus $3,475 in Barcelona.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,464 in Karratha versus $4,614 in Barcelona.
πMonthly costs are close between Karratha and Barcelona; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Karratha75% above, Barcelona74% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Karratha
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.30A$38.22
$17.45β¬14.88
56.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4A$111
$69.8β¬59.6
13.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.06A$12.68
$13.91β¬11.86
-34.87%
Cappuccino
$3.65A$5.12
$2.74β¬2.34
33.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13A$4.39
$2.70β¬2.30
15.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21A$3.10
$2.03β¬1.73
8.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.42A$8.98
$4.51β¬3.85
42.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.15A$10.00
$4.61β¬3.93
55.10%
π Groceries & Markets
Karratha
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49A$2.08
$1.28β¬1.09
16.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40A$3.36
$2.10β¬1.79
14.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.01A$2.81
$1.99β¬1.70
1.01%
Eggs
$4.27A$5.98
$3.45β¬2.95
23.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.48A$11.88
$18.61β¬15.87
-54.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29A$11.61
$9.41β¬8.03
-11.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.44A$18.81
$18.70β¬15.95
-28.13%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28A$4.59
$2.61β¬2.22
25.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.85A$3.99
$2.39β¬2.04
19.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.02A$4.22
$2.19β¬1.86
37.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.10A$5.74
$2.81β¬2.40
45.91%
Potato(1kg)
$2.44A$3.42
$2.03β¬1.73
20.20%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12A$2.96
$1.87β¬1.60
13.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.10A$2.94
$1.45β¬1.24
44.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54A$2.16
$0.92β¬0.79
67.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$30.97A$43.36
$6.82β¬5.82
354.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.47A$20.26
$7.71β¬6.58
87.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.47A$6.26
$1.38β¬1.18
223.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31A$7.43
$2.33β¬1.99
127.90%
π Getting Around
Karratha
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.66A$3.72
$2.88β¬2.46
-7.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.2A$91.3
$29.04β¬24.77
124.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.49A$4.88
$4.43β¬3.78
-21.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53A$2.15
$2.14β¬1.82
-28.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.11A$46.35
$28.96β¬24.71
14.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13A$1.58
$1.90β¬1.62
-40.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6KA$40.1K
$37.9Kβ¬32.3K
-24.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KA$32.0K
$33.3Kβ¬28.4K
-31.39%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karratha
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186A$260
$186β¬158
0.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.63A$38.68
$22.17β¬18.91
24.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.8A$72.6
$36.52β¬31.15
41.89%
π Sport & Entertainment
Karratha
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.66A$69.5
$58.4β¬49.81
-14.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.78A$22.09
$20.75β¬17.70
-23.95%
Cinema Ticket
$12.80A$17.92
$11.10β¬9.47
15.32%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Karratha
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,632A$2,285
$705β¬601
131.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KA$16.6K
$15.2Kβ¬13.0K
-21.88%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Karratha
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0A$93.9
$86.4β¬73.7
-22.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.3A$70.4
$36.88β¬31.46
36.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.8A$138
$104β¬88.8
-5.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105A$147
$115β¬98.4
-8.71%
π Accommodation & Living
Karratha
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,273A$1,782
$1,538β¬1,312
-17.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,065A$1,491
$1,242β¬1,060
-14.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,037A$2,852
$2,728β¬2,327
-25.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,660A$2,324
$2,011β¬1,716
-17.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,335A$7,468
$7,155β¬6,104
-25.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,722A$6,611
$4,843β¬4,131
-2.50%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Karratha
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,474β¬2,111
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
3.39
87.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karratha: April 21, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,273 in Karratha and $1,538 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $79 in Karratha vs $70 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $338 vs $318 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
Karratha vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in Karratha compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $3,519 in Karratha and $3,504 in Barcelona to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Karratha and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,273 in Karratha versus $1,538 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 Karratha and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $1,632 in Karratha versus $705 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 Barcelona β a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $79.0 in Karratha. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,336 in Barcelona versus $2,346 in Karratha, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Karratha. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Karratha and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Karratha or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Karratha 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.
How do I decide between Karratha and Barcelona?
It comes down to priorities β Barcelona wins on affordability, Karratha on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.