🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,962 in Puerto de la Cruz versus $2,495 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,823 in Puerto de la Cruz versus $3,550 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,685 in Puerto de la Cruz versus $4,605 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Puerto de la Cruz costs roughly 21% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Puerto de la Cruz43% above, Barcelona82% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puerto de la Cruz
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.07€12.09
$18.39€15.81
-23.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.9€53.3
$69.2€59.5
-10.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.29€8.84
$14.13€12.15
-27.18%
Cappuccino
$2.56€2.20
$3.13€2.69
-18.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.68
$3.02€2.59
-35.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.34
$1.96€1.69
-20.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.94€2.52
$4.00€3.44
-26.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83€3.29
$4.76€4.09
-19.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puerto de la Cruz
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13€0.98
$1.25€1.07
-9.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.50
$2.16€1.86
-19.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.69€1.45
1.78%
Eggs
$3.68€3.17
$4.93€4.24
-25.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.47€10.72
$17.88€15.37
-30.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.17€8.74
$9.61€8.26
5.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.82€11.88
$19.34€16.63
-28.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$3.24€2.78
-18.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.16€1.86
$2.18€1.87
-0.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.48€1.28
$2.67€2.30
-44.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.68€2.30
$2.77€2.38
-3.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.37€2.04
$2.21€1.90
7.24%
Onion(1kg)
$2.51€2.16
$2.19€1.88
14.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04€1.76
$1.52€1.31
34.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.79
$0.92€0.79
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26€3.66
$7.12€6.12
-40.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.96€5.98
$8.14€6.99
-14.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41€1.21
$1.50€1.29
-6.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70€2.32
$2.78€2.39
-2.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Puerto de la Cruz
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$3.15€2.71
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.80€38.51
$26.99€23.21
65.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44€2.95
$3.25€2.79
5.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.28€1.96
$1.50€1.29
52.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.98€24.91
$34.89€30.00
-16.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.63€1.40
$1.75€1.50
-6.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K€31.5K
$36.7K€31.5K
-0.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K€25.5K
$30.9K€26.6K
-4.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto de la Cruz
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$118€102
$188€161
-36.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.20€17.37
$15.44€13.27
30.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.39€25.27
$37.80€32.49
-22.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puerto de la Cruz
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$57.2€49.16
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.20€14.79
$16.80€14.44
2.38%
Cinema Ticket
$9.15€7.87
$11.58€9.95
-20.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puerto de la Cruz
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$493€424
$1,003€862
-50.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,888€5,922
$17.0K€14.6K
-59.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puerto de la Cruz
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9€77.3
$89.2€76.7
0.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.47€33.94
$40.87€35.14
-3.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.5€80.4
$110€94.5
-14.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127€109
$123€105
3.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puerto de la Cruz
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,157€995
$1,673€1,438
-30.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,078€926
$1,331€1,145
-19.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,007€1,726
$2,596€2,232
-22.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,614€1,388
$1,950€1,676
-17.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,866€3,324
$7,573€6,511
-48.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,674€3,158
$5,370€4,617
-31.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puerto de la Cruz
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,374€1,182
$2,402€2,065
-42.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.15
3.16
-0.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Puerto de la Cruz: August 30, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,157 in Puerto de la Cruz and $1,673 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 75% 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: $62.0 in Puerto de la Cruz vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $332 per month, with Puerto de la Cruz 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
Puerto de la Cruz vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Puerto de la Cruz and in Barcelona?
Puerto de la Cruz and Barcelona differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($1,962 vs $2,495 including rent). Puerto de la Cruz is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 75% lower in Barcelona. 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 Puerto de la Cruz and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,157 in Puerto de la Cruz versus $1,673 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 Puerto de la Cruz and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $493 in Puerto de la Cruz versus $1,003 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 17% higher in Barcelona. 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 $1,962 in Puerto de la Cruz versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Puerto de la Cruz but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Puerto de la Cruz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Puerto de la Cruz 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 Puerto de la Cruz or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Puerto de la Cruz 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: Puerto de la Cruz or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Puerto de la Cruz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Puerto de la Cruz vs other spots: cost of living compared