How expensive is Barcelona compared to the rest of Spain?

Barcelona ranks #255 out of 558 cities globally. It is 5.8% more expensive than the Spain average, based on 14 cities. The rent index is 35.4 and local purchasing power is 95.3.

What is the average rent in Barcelona?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Barcelona city centre costs approximately EUR 1,411 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to EUR 1,082 (saving 23%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around EUR 2,221.

Is Barcelona affordable to live in?

Barcelona is average overall. Groceries are average, 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.

Barcelona Cost of Living 2026: rent €1,411/mo, +5.8% vs country avg

Precios del Alquiler

Precios de Alquiler en Barcelona

Apartamento	Centro	Fuera del Centro	Ahorras
1 Dormitorio	EUR 1,411/mo ≈ $1,642	EUR 1,082/mo ≈ $1,259	23%
3 Dormitorios	EUR 2,221/mo ≈ $2,584	EUR 1,685/mo ≈ $1,960	23%

Numbeo · 2026-03-18

Prices

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. September 2026.

Índices de Coste

Coste de Vida

+5.8% Average

Alquiler

+9.9% Expensive

Supermercado

+6.5% Average

Restaurantes

+3.8% Average

Poder Adquisitivo

-1.3% Average

Vivir en Barcelona: Qué Esperar

Barcelona es average según estándares globales (puesto #255 de 558 ciudades). Está 5.8% más caro que el promedio de Spain, basado en 14 ciudades.

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

El poder adquisitivo local es limitado — los residentes pueden permitirse menos bienes y servicios que en la mayoría de ciudades.

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 →

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