🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,141 in Szekesfehervar versus $2,476 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,854 in Szekesfehervar versus $3,545 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,567 in Szekesfehervar versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Szekesfehervar costs roughly 54% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Szekesfehervar is 17% below, Barcelona is 81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szekesfehervar
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.05Ft 3,197
$18.74€16.33
-46.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.7Ft 20.0K
$69.5€60.6
-9.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.75Ft 2,783
$13.77€12.00
-36.46%
Cappuccino
$2.28Ft 726
$3.10€2.70
-26.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44Ft 458
$2.83€2.47
-49.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09Ft 348
$1.88€1.64
-42.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.09Ft 665
$3.98€3.47
-47.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42Ft 770
$4.53€3.95
-46.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szekesfehervar
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18Ft 374
$1.27€1.11
-7.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48Ft 471
$2.16€1.88
-31.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.69Ft 854
$1.76€1.53
52.84%
Eggs
$3.61Ft 1,147
$5.13€4.47
-29.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.05Ft 3,197
$17.88€15.59
-43.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.51Ft 2,070
$9.65€8.41
-32.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.27Ft 5,174
$20.15€17.56
-19.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.11Ft 672
$3.25€2.84
-35.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24Ft 714
$2.23€1.94
0.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03Ft 647
$2.60€2.27
-21.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.15Ft 1,001
$2.76€2.40
14.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08Ft 343
$2.21€1.93
-51.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18Ft 375
$2.12€1.85
-44.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55Ft 494
$1.55€1.35
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49Ft 156
$0.95€0.83
-48.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.70Ft 2,132
$7.34€6.40
-8.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.13Ft 994
$8.05€7.01
-61.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30Ft 413
$1.54€1.35
-15.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11Ft 672
$2.79€2.43
-24.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Szekesfehervar
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.28Ft 406
$3.11€2.71
-58.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.52Ft 8,753
$25.86€22.54
6.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.16Ft 1,005
$3.27€2.85
-3.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.70Ft 540
$1.48€1.29
14.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.98Ft 6,039
$34.27€29.88
-44.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89Ft 602
$1.73€1.51
9.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0KFt 8.9M
$36.4K€31.7K
-23.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KFt 9.9M
$30.5K€26.6K
1.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szekesfehervar
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131Ft 41.5K
$187€163
-30.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.57Ft 9,088
$15.14€13.20
88.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.92Ft 6,337
$37.69€32.85
-47.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szekesfehervar
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.27Ft 15.0K
$55.9€48.76
-15.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.08€14.89
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.72Ft 2,773
$11.41€9.95
-23.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szekesfehervar
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$257Ft 81.9K
$997€869
-74.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,989Ft 2.2M
$16.5K€14.4K
-57.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szekesfehervar
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.1Ft 22.3K
$92.6€80.8
-24.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.20Ft 8,017
$41.22€35.93
-38.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.2Ft 24.9K
$111€96.9
-29.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.3Ft 27.5K
$125€109
-31.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szekesfehervar
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$403Ft 128.2K
$1,707€1,488
-76.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$314Ft 100.0K
$1,286€1,121
-75.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$640Ft 203.5K
$2,565€2,236
-75.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$674Ft 214.5K
$1,942€1,693
-65.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,505Ft 1.1M
$7,647€6,666
-54.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,191Ft 1.0M
$5,167€4,504
-38.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szekesfehervar
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,519Ft 483.2K
$2,348€2,047
-35.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
3.16
111.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szekesfehervar: September 13, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $403 in Szekesfehervar and $1,707 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 55% 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: $63.0 in Szekesfehervar vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $336 per month, with Szekesfehervar 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
Szekesfehervar vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Szekesfehervar and in Barcelona?
Szekesfehervar and Barcelona differ by about 117% in total monthly costs ($1,141 vs $2,476 including rent). Szekesfehervar 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 55% 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 Szekesfehervar and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $403 in Szekesfehervar versus $1,707 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 Szekesfehervar and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $257 in Szekesfehervar versus $997 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 37% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,141 in Szekesfehervar versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Szekesfehervar but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Szekesfehervar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Szekesfehervar 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 Szekesfehervar or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Szekesfehervar 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: Szekesfehervar or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Szekesfehervar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Szekesfehervar vs other spots: cost of living compared