How expensive is Barcelona compared to the rest of Spain?

Barcelona ranks #172 out of 577 cities globally. It is 21.7% more expensive than the Spain average, based on 15 cities. The rent index is 34.8 and local purchasing power is 93.0.

What is the average rent in Barcelona?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Barcelona city centre costs approximately EUR 1,490 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to EUR 1,153 (saving 23%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around EUR 2,306.

Is Barcelona affordable to live in?

Barcelona is expensive by global standards. Groceries are expensive, restaurants are average, and local purchasing power is average. Workers in Spain earning EUR 50,000 gross take home approximately EUR 2,962 per month after tax.

🇪🇸 Spain · 2026

Coste de Vida en Barcelona

21.7% por encima del promedio de Spain

Posición #172 de 577 ciudades · Más cara que el 70.2% de las ciudades del mundo

+21.7%

Coste de Vida

+43.2%

Alquiler

+12.6%

Supermercado

-4.5%

Poder Adquisitivo

Comparado con el promedio de Spain · Ver ranking de Spain →

Precios de Alquiler en Barcelona

Apartamento	Centro	Fuera del Centro	Ahorras
1 Dormitorio	EUR 1,490/mo ≈ $1,687	EUR 1,153/mo ≈ $1,305	23%
3 Dormitorios	EUR 2,306/mo ≈ $2,610	EUR 1,718/mo ≈ $1,944	26%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in Barcelona

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	EUR 2.00	1 source
Bread (500g)	EUR 1.20	1 source
Chicken (1kg)	EUR 6.50	1 source
Eggs (12)	EUR 2.10	1 source
Milk (1L)	EUR 0.95	1 source
Rice (1kg)	EUR 1.40	1 source
Water (1.5L)	EUR 0.50	1 source

Apples (1kg)

EUR 2.00

Bread (500g)

EUR 1.20

Chicken (1kg)

EUR 6.50

Eggs (12)

EUR 2.10

Milk (1L)

EUR 0.95

Rice (1kg)

EUR 1.40

Water (1.5L)

EUR 0.50

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	EUR 2.30	1 source
Cappuccino	EUR 2.00	1 source
McMeal	EUR 9.50	1 source
Cheap meal	EUR 15.40	1 source
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	EUR 70.00	1 source

Draft beer (0.5L)

EUR 2.30

Cappuccino

EUR 2.00

McMeal

EUR 9.50

Cheap meal

EUR 15.40

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

EUR 70.00

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	EUR 10.40	1 source
Gym membership	EUR 55.00	1 source

Cinema ticket

EUR 10.40

Gym membership

EUR 55.00

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Electricity (85m² apt)	EUR 78.00	1 source
Garbage collection	EUR 12.00	1 source
Natural gas (85m² apt)	EUR 28.00	1 source
Internet (60 Mbps)	EUR 28.00	1 source
Water (85m² apt)	EUR 25.00	1 source

Electricity (85m² apt)

EUR 78.00

Garbage collection

EUR 12.00

Natural gas (85m² apt)

EUR 28.00

Internet (60 Mbps)

EUR 28.00

Water (85m² apt)

EUR 25.00

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	EUR 1.46	1 source
Taxi per km	EUR 1.35	1 source
Taxi start	EUR 2.80	1 source
Monthly pass	EUR 22.80	1 source
Single ticket	EUR 2.90	1 source

Gasoline (1L)

EUR 1.46

Taxi per km

EUR 1.35

Taxi start

EUR 2.80

Monthly pass

EUR 22.80

Single ticket

EUR 2.90

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★★ High Confidence

Barcelona has a cost of living index of 47.6 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 4 of 4 data sources.

47.6

Index

Sources

4.6

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

48.4

Expatistan

45.0

LivingCost

49.6

ShouldIMove price index

47.2

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

Eurostat Validation (EU27 = 100) Gov. Data

Eurostat

100.1

Based on 93 country PLI x 1.076 city factor

View all 577 cities | Data last updated: 2026-03-18

Índices de Coste

Coste de Vida

+21.7% Very expensive

Alquiler

+43.2% Very expensive

Supermercado

+12.6% Expensive

Restaurantes

+7.3% Average

Poder Adquisitivo

-4.5% Average

Vivir en Barcelona: Qué Esperar

Barcelona es expensive según estándares globales (puesto #172 de 577 ciudades). Está 21.7% más caro que el promedio de Spain, basado en 15 ciudades.

Los comestibles son expensive, mientras que comer fuera es average. Restaurants ofrece el mejor valor, mientras que Rent es lo más caro.

Los trabajadores en Spain con EUR 50,000 brutos se llevan EUR 2,962/mes neto después de impuestos (28.9%% tipo efectivo). Ver calculadora fiscal completa de Spain →