๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,389 in Kaลกtela versus $2,399 in Barcelona.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,173 in Kaลกtela versus $3,496 in Barcelona.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,957 in Kaลกtela versus $4,592 in Barcelona.
๐Living in Kaลกtela costs roughly 42% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kaลกtela4% above, Barcelona80% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Kaลกtela
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.48โฌ14.19
$17.68โฌ15.22
-6.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.7โฌ68.6
$70.1โฌ60.3
13.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.21โฌ7.93
$13.66โฌ11.76
-32.58%
Cappuccino
$2.93โฌ2.52
$2.74โฌ2.36
6.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41โฌ2.94
$2.79โฌ2.40
22.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55โฌ2.19
$1.96โฌ1.69
30.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60โฌ3.96
$4.36โฌ3.76
5.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71โฌ3.20
$4.58โฌ3.94
-19.00%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Kaลกtela
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42โฌ1.22
$1.29โฌ1.11
10.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56โฌ1.35
$2.05โฌ1.77
-23.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.06โฌ2.63
$1.98โฌ1.71
54.55%
Eggs
$3.84โฌ3.31
$3.39โฌ2.92
13.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.01โฌ8.62
$18.64โฌ16.05
-46.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.86โฌ8.49
$9.56โฌ8.23
3.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.89โฌ11.10
$18.83โฌ16.22
-31.55%
Apples(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.47
$2.75โฌ2.37
-37.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63โฌ1.41
$2.47โฌ2.13
-34.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.18โฌ1.88
$2.10โฌ1.80
3.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.34โฌ2.02
$2.82โฌ2.43
-17.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51โฌ1.30
$2.02โฌ1.74
-25.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39โฌ1.19
$1.85โฌ1.59
-24.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.42โฌ1.22
$1.51โฌ1.30
-5.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23โฌ1.06
$0.90โฌ0.77
36.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.70โฌ4.91
$7.06โฌ6.08
-19.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33โฌ6.31
$7.98โฌ6.87
-8.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33โฌ1.14
$1.43โฌ1.23
-6.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13โฌ0.97
$2.29โฌ1.97
-50.66%
๐ Getting Around
Kaลกtela
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29โฌ1.98
$2.88โฌ2.48
-20.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.28โฌ32.96
$28.39โฌ24.45
34.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.41โฌ2.94
$4.38โฌ3.77
-22.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04โฌ1.76
$2.14โฌ1.84
-4.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.29โฌ8.00
$29.15โฌ25.10
-68.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73โฌ1.49
$1.86โฌ1.61
-6.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9Kโฌ32.6K
$39.0Kโฌ33.6K
-2.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2Kโฌ22.6K
$32.7Kโฌ28.2K
-19.76%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaลกtela
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185โฌ159
$189โฌ163
-2.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.55โฌ20.28
$22.71โฌ19.56
3.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.00โฌ21.53
$36.51โฌ31.43
-31.53%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Kaลกtela
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.9โฌ48.99
$57.6โฌ49.59
-1.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.42โฌ12.41
$21.37โฌ18.40
-32.52%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52โฌ8.20
$10.81โฌ9.31
-11.93%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Kaลกtela
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$188โฌ162
$726โฌ625
-74.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,362โฌ1,173
$15.1Kโฌ13.0K
-90.98%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Kaลกtela
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.3โฌ70.9
$87.7โฌ75.5
-6.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.07โฌ24.17
$36.89โฌ31.77
-23.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109โฌ93.8
$104โฌ89.2
5.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105โฌ90.4
$116โฌ100
-9.88%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Kaลกtela
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$479โฌ413
$1,573โฌ1,355
-69.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347โฌ299
$1,220โฌ1,050
-71.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$606โฌ522
$2,711โฌ2,335
-77.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$555โฌ478
$1,966โฌ1,693
-71.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,392โฌ2,921
$7,811โฌ6,726
-56.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,486โฌ2,141
$5,267โฌ4,535
-52.80%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Kaลกtela
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$901โฌ776
$2,375โฌ2,045
-62.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.35
3.39
28.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kaลกtela: June 16, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $479 in Kaลกtela and $1,573 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐBarcelona pays 164% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $80.0 in Kaลกtela vs $70.0 in Barcelona. Groceries flip the comparison at $266 vs $321, with Kaลกtela cheaper for home cooking.
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
Kaลกtela vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kaลกtela and Barcelona?
Kaลกtela and Barcelona differ by about 73% in total monthly costs ($1,389 vs $2,399 including rent). Kaลกtela is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Barcelona earns 164% 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 Kaลกtela and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $479 in Kaลกtela versus $1,573 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 Kaลกtela and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $188 in Kaลกtela 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 grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,389 in Kaลกtela versus $2,399 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kaลกtela but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Kaลกtela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kaลกtela and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Kaลกtela or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kaลกtela 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: Kaลกtela or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Kaลกtela gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 73% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.