😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,952 in Kingston, NY versus $2,320 in Barcelona.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,277 in Kingston, NY versus $3,426 in Barcelona.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,601 in Kingston, NY versus $4,532 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Kingston, NY is roughly 27% more expensive than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kingston, NY121% above, Barcelona74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kingston, NY
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.72$17.72
$17.66€15.43
0.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.6$73.6
$69.7€60.9
5.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.61$11.61
$14.16€12.37
-18.01%
Cappuccino
$5.65$5.65
$2.80€2.45
101.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58$2.58
$2.81€2.46
-8.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42$2.42
$2.06€1.80
17.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.16$8.16
$4.60€4.02
77.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.41$9.41
$4.69€4.10
100.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kingston, NY
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96$0.96
$1.23€1.07
-21.95%
White Bread(500g)
$4.27$4.27
$2.03€1.78
110.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.87$6.87
$1.98€1.73
246.97%
Eggs
$5.19$5.19
$3.49€3.05
48.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.51$18.51
$18.33€16.01
0.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.79$11.79
$9.83€8.59
19.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.53$19.53
$19.13€16.71
2.09%
Apples(1kg)
$5.22$5.22
$2.73€2.38
91.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26$1.26
$2.38€2.08
-47.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.66$4.66
$2.08€1.82
124.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.41$7.41
$2.75€2.41
169.45%
Potato(1kg)
$2.87$2.87
$1.96€1.71
46.43%
Onion(1kg)
$3.63$3.63
$1.79€1.57
102.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.20$2.20
$1.48€1.29
48.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.08$2.08
$0.91€0.80
128.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.86$16.86
$7.13€6.23
136.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.08$13.08
$7.88€6.88
65.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88$1.88
$1.38€1.20
36.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59$3.59
$2.39€2.09
50.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Kingston, NY
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.96$1.96
$3.01€2.63
-34.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.3$64.3
$29.35€25.65
119.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44$3.44
$4.36€3.81
-21.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57$1.57
$2.13€1.86
-26.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.01$29.01
$29.60€25.86
-1.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$1.82€1.59
-50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9K$31.9K
$37.9K€33.1K
-15.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$32.4K€28.3K
-19.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kingston, NY
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186$186
$189€165
-1.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.9$66.9
$22.29€19.48
200.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.1$79.1
$37.16€32.47
112.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kingston, NY
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.97$41.97
$58.0€50.7
-27.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.98$24.98
$20.66€18.05
20.91%
Cinema Ticket
$14.71$14.71
$10.87€9.50
35.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kingston, NY
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,547$2,547
$706€617
260.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.4K$23.4K
$14.9K€13.0K
57.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kingston, NY
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.93$42.93
$89.4€78.2
-52.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.63$29.63
$36.60€31.98
-19.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.9$73.9
$104€90.9
-28.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7$76.7
$119€104
-35.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kingston, NY
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,869$1,869
$1,579€1,379
18.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,608$1,608
$1,238€1,082
29.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,172$3,172
$2,712€2,370
16.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,652$2,652
$2,039€1,782
30.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,127$3,127
$7,527€6,576
-58.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,129$3,129
$5,239€4,577
-40.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kingston, NY
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,130$3,130
$2,364€2,065
32.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.08
3.39
108.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kingston, NY: July 11, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,869 in Kingston, NY and $1,579 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kingston, NY pays 32% 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: $74.0 in Kingston, NY vs $70.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $455 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
Kingston, NY vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kingston, NY and in Barcelona?
Kingston, NY and Barcelona differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($2,952 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: Kingston, NY or Barcelona?
Average pay runs 32% higher in Kingston, NY, 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 Kingston, NY and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,869 in Kingston, NY 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 Kingston, NY and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $2,547 in Kingston, NY 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 42% higher in Kingston, NY. 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 $2,952 in Kingston, NY, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Kingston, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kingston, NY 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 Kingston, NY or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kingston, NY 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: Kingston, NY or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Kingston, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kingston, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared