🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,353 in Mishref versus $2,482 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,264 in Mishref versus $3,548 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mishref versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Mishref costs roughly 45% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mishref is 2% below, Barcelona is 80% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mishref
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.87KWD 3.95
$18.42€15.88
-30.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.6KWD 19.50
$69.4€59.8
-8.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.15KWD 2.80
$14.05€12.11
-34.88%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21KWD 0.98
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.80KWD 1.47
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.39KWD 1.65
$3.11€2.68
73.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75KWD 0.23
$2.96€2.55
-74.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35KWD 0.11
$1.95€1.69
-82.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.99€3.44
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.62€3.98
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mishref
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57KWD 0.48
$1.32€1.14
18.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54KWD 0.47
$2.11€1.82
-27.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99KWD 0.61
$1.83€1.57
8.74%
Eggs
$2.06KWD 0.63
$5.16€4.45
-60.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.28KWD 1.31
$17.56€15.14
-75.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.63KWD 2.03
$9.50€8.19
-30.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.19KWD 3.13
$19.93€17.18
-48.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.49KWD 0.76
$3.17€2.73
-21.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87KWD 0.57
$2.21€1.91
-15.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79KWD 0.55
$2.61€2.25
-31.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56KWD 0.48
$2.85€2.46
-45.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34KWD 0.41
$2.17€1.87
-38.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45KWD 0.44
$2.11€1.81
-31.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.27KWD 0.69
$1.62€1.39
40.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59KWD 0.18
$0.88€0.76
-32.95%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.28KWD 1.00
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06KWD 0.33
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43KWD 0.44
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71KWD 0.83
$7.17€6.18
-62.20%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$8.33€7.18
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.50€1.29
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.75€2.37
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mishref
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84KWD 0.26
$3.14€2.70
-73.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.25€22.63
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.78KWD 1.47
$3.22€2.78
48.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.21KWD 0.99
$1.51€1.30
112.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.27KWD 4.99
$35.26€30.39
-53.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.35KWD 0.11
$1.75€1.51
-80.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KKWD 6,508
$36.7K€31.6K
-42.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KKWD 6,249
$31.7K€27.3K
-35.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mishref
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.5KWD 20.39
$187€161
-64.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.83KWD 7.00
$15.10€13.01
51.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.02KWD 9.20
$37.60€32.41
-20.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mishref
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.9KWD 30.33
$55.5€47.83
78.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.74€14.43
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.29KWD 3.46
$11.71€10.09
-3.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mishref
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303KWD 93.0
$1,011€871
-69.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,369KWD 2,873
$17.1K€14.7K
-45.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mishref
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.16KWD 11.39
$91.4€78.8
-59.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.70KWD 12.17
$41.00€35.34
-3.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.7KWD 29.96
$111€95.3
-11.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.2KWD 27.65
$126€109
-28.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mishref
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$737KWD 226
$1,704€1,469
-56.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$572KWD 175
$1,299€1,120
-56.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,749KWD 536
$2,588€2,231
-32.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,325KWD 406
$1,929€1,663
-31.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,732€6,665
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,384€4,641
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mishref
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,374€2,046
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.53
3.16
106.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mishref: September 6, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Mishref and $1,704 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $64.0 in Mishref vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $333 per month, with Mishref 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
Mishref vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mishref and in Barcelona?
Mishref and Barcelona differ by about 83% in total monthly costs ($1,353 vs $2,482 including rent). Mishref is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mishref compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $2,030 in Mishref and $3,724 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 Mishref and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $737 in Mishref 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 Mishref and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $303 in Mishref 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 Mishref – a meal for two runs $64.0 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 $1,500 per month?
At $1,353 in Mishref versus $2,482 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mishref but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Mishref the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mishref 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 Mishref or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mishref 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: Mishref or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Mishref gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.