🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,658 in Queluz versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,360 in Queluz versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,063 in Queluz versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Queluz costs roughly 30% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Queluz24% above, Barcelona77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Queluz
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.10€12.14
$17.58€15.14
-19.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.00€24.96
$68.4€58.9
-57.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.14€6.15
$14.06€12.10
-49.22%
Cappuccino
$0.90€0.78
$2.78€2.39
-67.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70€1.46
$2.80€2.41
-39.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17€1.01
$2.06€1.78
-43.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.13€0.97
$4.46€3.84
-74.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.02
$4.61€3.97
-49.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Queluz
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51€1.30
$1.24€1.07
21.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.27€1.09
$2.03€1.75
-37.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39€1.19
$1.92€1.65
-27.60%
Eggs
$3.35€2.88
$3.31€2.85
1.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.44€9.85
$18.43€15.87
-37.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.92€6.81
$9.49€8.17
-16.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.27€20.03
$19.16€16.49
21.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.66€2.29
$2.64€2.27
0.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41€1.22
$2.45€2.11
-42.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$2.12€1.83
-18.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.58€2.22
$2.85€2.45
-9.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47€1.27
$2.04€1.75
-27.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$1.85€1.59
6.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.58€1.36
$1.47€1.27
7.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73€0.63
$0.84€0.73
-13.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.01€5.18
$7.14€6.15
-15.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.47€5.57
$7.88€6.79
-17.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08€0.93
$1.38€1.19
-21.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05€0.91
$2.31€1.99
-54.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Queluz
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.97
$2.98€2.57
-23.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.66€35.86
$29.26€25.19
42.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.64
$4.60€3.96
-8.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.87€0.75
$2.07€1.78
-57.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.17€14.78
$29.18€25.12
-41.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.05€1.76
$1.84€1.58
11.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K€29.6K
$39.0K€33.6K
-11.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$32.7K€28.1K
20.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Queluz
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$155€133
$188€162
-17.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.19€18.24
$22.93€19.74
-7.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.7€50.5
$36.71€31.61
59.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Queluz
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.79€37.70
$57.4€49.39
-23.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.70€17.82
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.34€7.18
$11.19€9.64
-25.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Queluz
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$469€404
$721€621
-34.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,363€7,199
$15.0K€13.0K
-44.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Queluz
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.9€63.6
$86.2€74.2
-14.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2€50.1
$37.07€31.92
56.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.1€70.7
$102€87.8
-19.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.9€59.3
$116€99.8
-40.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Queluz
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$918€791
$1,534€1,320
-40.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$742€639
$1,220€1,051
-39.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,469€1,265
$2,696€2,321
-45.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,179€1,015
$2,013€1,733
-41.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,404€2,930
$7,220€6,216
-52.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,363€2,034
$5,189€4,467
-54.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Queluz
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,359€2,031
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.43
3.39
60.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Queluz: May 31, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $918 in Queluz and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $29.00 in Queluz vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $318 per month, with Queluz 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
Queluz vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Queluz and Barcelona?
Queluz and Barcelona differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,658 vs $2,367 including rent). Queluz is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Queluz compared to Barcelona?
You'd need roughly $2,487 in Queluz and $3,550 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 Queluz and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $918 in Queluz 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 Queluz and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $469 in Queluz 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 grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,658 in Queluz versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Queluz but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Queluz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Queluz 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 Queluz or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Queluz 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: Queluz or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Queluz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.