🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $967 in Kostanay versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,401 in Kostanay versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,836 in Kostanay versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Kostanay costs roughly 59% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kostanay is 28% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kostanay
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.71₸3,780
$17.58€15.12
-56.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.27₸12.4K
$68.4€58.9
-63.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.48₸3,176
$14.06€12.09
-53.91%
Cappuccino
$2.29₸1,121
$2.78€2.39
-17.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96₸469
$2.80€2.41
-65.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80₸393
$2.06€1.78
-61.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79₸879
$4.46€3.84
-59.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34₸1,638
$4.61€3.96
-27.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kostanay
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.98₸481
$1.24€1.07
-20.97%
White Bread(500g)
$0.44₸216
$2.03€1.74
-78.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16₸568
$1.92€1.65
-39.58%
Eggs
$1.78₸873
$3.31€2.85
-46.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.12₸3,978
$18.43€15.85
-55.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.26₸2,575
$9.49€8.16
-44.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.00₸3,922
$19.16€16.48
-58.25%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25₸614
$2.64€2.27
-52.65%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00₸979
$2.45€2.11
-18.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30₸636
$2.12€1.82
-38.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.31₸641
$2.85€2.45
-54.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.54₸265
$2.04€1.75
-73.53%
Onion(1kg)
$0.24₸118
$1.85€1.59
-87.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94₸458
$1.47€1.26
-36.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92₸450
$0.84€0.73
9.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20₸1,079
$7.14€6.14
-69.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.80₸3,822
$7.88€6.78
-1.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97₸473
$1.38€1.19
-29.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69₸1,316
$2.31€1.99
16.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Kostanay
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30₸148
$2.98€2.56
-89.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.26€25.17
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00₸490
$4.60€3.95
-78.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07₸527
$2.07€1.78
-48.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.71₸2,797
$29.18€25.10
-80.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.49₸241
$1.84€1.58
-73.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K₸14.2M
$39.0K€33.6K
-25.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K₸13.2M
$32.7K€28.1K
-17.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kostanay
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.4₸35.5K
$188€162
-61.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.79₸4,797
$22.93€19.73
-57.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.18₸5,479
$36.71€31.58
-69.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kostanay
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.58₸19.4K
$57.4€49.35
-31.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.76₸8,704
$20.70€17.80
-14.20%
Cinema Ticket
$3.79₸1,859
$11.19€9.63
-66.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kostanay
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$183₸89.7K
$721€620
-74.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,805₸2.8M
$15.0K€12.9K
-61.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kostanay
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105₸51.3K
$86.2€74.2
21.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.3₸27.6K
$37.07€31.89
51.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116₸56.8K
$102€87.8
13.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101₸49.3K
$116€99.7
-13.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kostanay
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$381₸186.5K
$1,534€1,319
-75.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$328₸160.9K
$1,220€1,050
-73.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$529₸259.3K
$2,696€2,319
-80.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$427₸209.4K
$2,013€1,732
-78.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,102₸540.3K
$7,220€6,211
-84.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$864₸423.6K
$5,189€4,463
-83.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kostanay
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$605₸296.4K
$2,359€2,029
-74.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18.5
3.39
445.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kostanay: May 30, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $381 in Kostanay and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 290% 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: $25.00 in Kostanay vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $318 per month, with Kostanay 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
Kostanay vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kostanay and Barcelona?
Kostanay and Barcelona differ by about 145% in total monthly costs ($967 vs $2,367 including rent). Kostanay 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 290% 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 Kostanay and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $381 in Kostanay versus $1,534 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 Kostanay and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $183 in Kostanay versus $721 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 Kostanay – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $68.0 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 $967 in Kostanay versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kostanay but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Kostanay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kostanay 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 Kostanay or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kostanay 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: Kostanay or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Kostanay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 145% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.