😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,884 in Valencia versus $1,647 in Barakaldo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,714 in Valencia versus $2,362 in Barakaldo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,545 in Valencia versus $3,076 in Barakaldo.
😐Living in Valencia is roughly 14% more expensive than Barakaldo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Valencia40% above, Barakaldo23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Valencia
Barakaldo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.16€13.06
$17.29€14.89
-12.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1€50.0
$51.2€44.15
13.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.72€10.96
$11.78€10.15
7.98%
Cappuccino
$2.67€2.30
$2.24€1.93
19.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.07
$2.89€2.49
-16.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03€1.75
$2.12€1.83
-4.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.93
$3.19€2.75
6.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55€3.06
$3.67€3.16
-3.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Valencia
Barakaldo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13€0.97
$1.22€1.05
-7.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.32€1.14
$1.50€1.29
-12.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72€1.49
$1.32€1.14
30.30%
Eggs
$2.79€2.40
$2.83€2.44
-1.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.35€9.78
$12.44€10.72
-8.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.36€7.20
$7.90€6.81
5.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.19€12.23
$12.80€11.03
10.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60€2.24
$2.68€2.31
-2.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$2.02€1.74
-10.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.79
$2.37€2.05
-12.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36€2.03
$2.40€2.07
-1.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.66€1.43
9.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.91€1.64
$2.32€2.00
-17.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62€1.40
$1.09€0.94
48.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77€0.66
$0.84€0.72
-8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.50€5.60
$6.19€5.33
5.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.10
$8.15€7.02
-27.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.35
$1.21€1.04
28.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01€1.73
$2.14€1.84
-6.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Valencia
Barakaldo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72€1.49
$1.72€1.48
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.95€28.39
$33.89€29.20
-2.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.49€3.01
$5.29€4.56
-34.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.25€1.08
$0.96€0.83
30.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.85€21.41
$32.32€27.85
-23.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80€1.55
$1.74€1.50
3.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$39.1K€33.7K
-9.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K€28.3K
$32.3K€27.8K
1.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valencia
Barakaldo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143€123
$140€120
2.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.38€11.53
$19.68€16.95
-32.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.21€26.03
$28.56€24.61
5.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Valencia
Barakaldo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.37€35.65
$47.85€41.23
-13.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.92€11.13
$15.15€13.05
-14.72%
Cinema Ticket
$9.59€8.26
$9.40€8.10
2.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Valencia
Barakaldo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$595€513
$498€429
19.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K€10.2K
$9,146€7,880
29.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Valencia
Barakaldo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€86.7
$84.9€73.2
18.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.76€32.53
$32.34€27.86
16.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€86.7
$81.6€70.3
23.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127€109
$112€96.3
13.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Valencia
Barakaldo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,223€1,054
$841€725
45.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$921€794
$683€589
34.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,937€1,669
$1,304€1,123
48.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,372€1,182
$1,019€878
34.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,749€4,953
$3,777€3,254
52.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,455€2,977
$2,234€1,925
54.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Valencia
Barakaldo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,950€1,680
$1,813€1,562
7.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.44
3.38
1.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Valencia: June 6, 2026
Last update for Barakaldo: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,223 in Valencia and $841 in Barakaldo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Valencia pays 8% 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: $58.0 in Valencia vs $51.0 in Barakaldo. Groceries flip the comparison at $254 vs $257, with Valencia cheaper for home cooking.
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
Valencia vs Barakaldo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Valencia and Barakaldo?
Valencia and Barakaldo differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($1,884 vs $1,647 including rent). Barakaldo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Valencia or Barakaldo?
Valencia pays 8% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Valencia and Barakaldo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,223 in Valencia versus $841 in Barakaldo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Barakaldo – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $58.0 in Valencia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Valencia or Barakaldo?
All in, you'll spend $1,884 per month in Valencia versus $1,647 in Barakaldo – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,647 in Barakaldo versus $1,884 in Valencia, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barakaldo but tight or insufficient in Valencia. The gap between the two cities makes Barakaldo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Valencia and Barakaldo?
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 Valencia or Barakaldo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Valencia and Barakaldo 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: Valencia or Barakaldo?
Expats usually find Barakaldo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Valencia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.