Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Monica, CA and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Monica, CA and Barcelona

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Monica, CA is 36.3% more expensive than Barcelona without rent, and 91.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Santa Monica, CA is 26.5% more expensive than Barcelona without rent, and 115.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Monica, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.29 $25.29
$17.41 €15.03
45.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.5 $99.5
$68.7 €59.3
44.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.3 $12.3
$13.71 €11.84
-10.28%
Cappuccino
$5.68 $5.68
$2.78 €2.4
104.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.8 €2.42
2.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.3 $2.3
$1.98 €1.71
16.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.59 $8.59
$4.43 €3.83
93.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.32 $9.32
$4.53 €3.91
105.74%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Santa Monica, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.24 €1.07
-4.84%
White Bread (500g)
$4.45 $4.45
$2.03 €1.75
119.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$1.98 €1.71
126.77%
Eggs
$7.19 $7.19
$3.46 €2.99
107.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.47 $12.47
$18.32 €15.82
-31.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.7 $13.7
$9.82 €8.47
39.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.46 $14.46
$19.24 €16.61
-24.84%
Apples (1kg)
$5.37 $5.37
$2.61 €2.25
105.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.34 €2.02
-16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$2.11 €1.82
88.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.73 $5.73
$2.77 €2.39
106.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.04 €1.76
46.08%
Onion (1kg)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.77 €1.53
38.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.5 €1.3
21.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$0.85 €0.73
149.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.83 $10.83
$7 €6.04
54.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.28 $15.28
$7.13 €6.16
114.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.43 €1.24
76.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34 $5.34
$2.29 €1.98
133.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Monica, CA
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.08 $2.08
$3.02 €2.6
-31.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.5 $81.5
$28.97 €25.01
181.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 $3.15
$4.59 €3.96
-31.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.02 €1.74
-15.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.08 $29.08
$29.56 €25.53
-1.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.81 €1.56
-31.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K $23.8K
$38.4K €33.1K
-37.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$32.4K €28K
-21.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Monica, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 $190
$190 €164
0.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.4 $58.4
$22.18 €19.15
163.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67 $67
$36.37 €31.4
84.33%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Santa Monica, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$122 $122
$57.4 €49.55
113.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.73 $44.73
$20.95 €18.09
113.51%
Cinema Ticket
$18.03 $18.03
$10.8 €9.33
66.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Monica, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,791 $1,791
$732 €632
144.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K $14.7K
$15.1K €13.1K
-2.52%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Santa Monica, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8 $62.8
$86.8 €74.9
-27.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.08 $34.08
$36.78 €31.76
-7.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$102 €88.2
-0.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 $153
$117 €101
30.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Monica, CA
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,279 $3,279
$1,581 €1,365
107.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,892 $2,892
$1,230 €1,062
135.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,850 $6,850
$2,707 €2,337
153.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,897 $5,897
$2,028 €1,751
190.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.8K $10.8K
$6,602 €5,700
63.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,171 $8,171
$5,045 €4,356
61.95%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Santa Monica, CA
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,229 $7,229
$2,198 €1,898
228.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
3.39
91.45%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Santa Monica, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Barcelona: October 28, 2025

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