Cost of Living in Barcelona

Summary of cost of living in Barcelona, Spain:

Restaurants
Edit Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 15.00 € 12.00-20.00
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 55.00 € 40.00-80.00
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) 10.00 € 9.00-11.00
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) 3.00 € 2.00-5.00
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 4.00 € 2.50-6.00
Cappuccino (regular) 2.24 € 1.25-3.00
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) 2.17 € 1.20-3.00
Water (12 oz small bottle) 1.56 € 1.00-2.00
Markets
Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) 4.01 € 3.29-5.07
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) 1.31 € 0.73-2.72
Rice (white), (1 lb) 0.67 € 0.45-1.36
Eggs (regular) (12) 2.76 € 1.80-4.00
Local Cheese (1 lb) 5.80 € 3.18-13.61
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 3.68 € 1.81-4.08
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) 6.15 € 3.18-9.53
Apples (1 lb) 0.93 € 0.45-1.36
Banana (1 lb) 0.77 € 0.45-1.36
Oranges (1 lb) 0.75 € 0.45-1.41
Tomato (1 lb) 1.07 € 0.45-1.59
Potato (1 lb) 0.75 € 0.41-1.04
Onion (1 lb) 0.72 € 0.45-0.95
Lettuce (1 head) 1.06 € 0.75-2.00
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 0.78 € 0.25-1.50
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 6.00 € 3.00-10.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 1.13 € 0.76-1.52
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 1.61 € 0.95-2.89
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) 5.11 € 5.00-6.00
Transportation
Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 2.40 € 2.20-2.55
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 26.40 € 20.00-43.00
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 3.00 € 2.30-5.00
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) 3.54 € 1.98-6.44
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 24.68 € 23.40-40.00
Gasoline (1 gallon) 6.28 € 5.79-7.19
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) 29,568.00 € 25,000.00-33,365.00
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) 25,453.85 € 24,000.00-27,500.00
Utilities (Monthly)
Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment 166.89 € 100.00-260.00
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data 16.68 € 10.00-30.00
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) 33.27 € 24.00-50.00
Sports And Leisure
Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 46.75 € 30.00-60.00
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 22.10 € 15.00-30.00
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 9.50 € 9.00-11.90
Childcare
Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child 524.15 € 350.00-850.00
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child 11,150.74 € 6,000.00-16,000.00
Clothing And Shoes
Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) 77.76 € 50.00-110.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) 30.21 € 20.00-50.00
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 88.15 € 60.00-120.00
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes 105.44 € 60.00-150.00
Rent Per Month
Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 1,235.00 € 1,000.00-1,600.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 961.17 € 800.00-1,200.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 2,083.33 € 1,600.00-3,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 1,573.18 € 1,200.00-2,100.00
Buy Apartment Price
Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 524.04 € 400.22-743.22
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 337.65 € 241.55-464.51
Salaries And Financing
Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 1,992.03 €
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate 3.59 2.75-4.50

Prices in Barcelona

This city had 2031 entries in the past 12 months by 387 different contributors.
Last update: March 2024
Sources and References
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
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18 Comments so far
Calero on Jun 13, 2023:
As someone who has lived in the United States, Canada, Poland, Madrid, Barcelona and travels to European cities like Amsterdam and Paris regularly.

Barcelona is not expensive whatsoever compared to other cities in Europe or North America. Prices of almost everything are a lot higher in France, Netherlands, Vancouver, Toronto, LA or New York. If you're a tourist and don't really know where to go, then you'll be scammed and asked 8€ for a sangría. If you know the local places, you'll be charged 2,50-3€.

As a Product Marketing Manager with 2 years of experience I'm making 38K a year, around 2.500€/month net. Most people around me make this amount, so it's nothing crazy. Average salary in Spain is low because there are many waiters, cashiers, etc. that are underpaid and exploited, getting the minimum salary. However, even a teacher or a nurse makes around 2.300€/month net here.

Taking this into account, it's not like people can't live here or that you'll be poor if you move here. You can save 30-40% of your income living a nice lifestyle.

Anyhow, I do agree that we should fight for higher salaries so Spain can catch up with northern countries. Additionally, rent should be cheaper though given the salaries and there should be some action regarding this topic, even though this happens in large cities like London as well. Security is better than in Paris, London or Milan, but this doesn't mean that it shouldn't be improved - I hope it will be.
Justin on May 03, 2023:
The average net salary in Barcelona is way less than 1800. I work in corporation and even I don't make that money on a monthly basis. Most people make less than 1500 euro a month
Truthtime on Mar 12, 2023:
Barcelona is strictly a lifestyle city, you come for 1-2, maybe 3 years, have some fun and then leave.
Why leave? the salaries, the price of housing, the price of eating out, taxis etc. None of it adds up.
You'll have a much better life long-term in Sweden or Switzerland for example...yeah the weather sucks, but guess what else sucks? not being able to buy housing ever, working for pennies and very little to no support from the government if anything happens your job.
Jay on Dec 06, 2022:
I have been admitted to ESADE, barcelona for masters in business analytics. Would it be a good decision for an Indian , considering language barrier and visa sponsorship reqt for jobs. Do data scientists/ analysts get jobs in barcelona or spain and is being fluent in spanish neccessary to get a job?
Adam on Nov 16, 2022:
@Anonymous, are you seriously comparing a suburbs place like Irvine CA to a major regional hub like Barcelona? Irvine may be safer, but it's a sleepy village in every respect relative to Barcelona. These two places are in a different league.
Anonymous on Nov 11, 2022:
@payton Suburban cities in the States like Irvine CA are safer and smarter than Barcelona and all other cities in europe lol
payton on Jul 19, 2022:
As someone living as an expat in BCN the last 2 years I’m shocked at some of the comments here. I think your view on cost of living and safety depends a lot on where you’ve lived before. Certainly there are cheaper safer cities in Europe. However some of these comments (especially about safety) make it sound more like Rio de Janeiro than Barcelona.

Prior to BCN I lived in a few different cities in the US (Indianapolis, LA, Chicago). In those cities I never felt comfortable walking home alone at night, homeless & mentally ill were prevalent, parents never let a kid out of sight, men catcall and approach you in uncomfortable ways. I felt always on my guard, even when I lived in the suburbs.

Here in Barcelona it’s the safest I’ve ever felt. Yes, you might get pickpocketed (I haven’t). And there are other crimes. But compared to many many places *outside* Europe, it is very safe. And, as has been mentioned, the affordability depends a lot on your lifestyle. It’s not cheap certainly. But compared with many cities that offer all the things it has (the food, weather, location, safety, mobility, culture, nightlife, healthcare, etc) it is far from the worst.

I’m not saying this to try to devalue anyones opinion. If you feel the city is too expensive, the rent is too high, the salaries too low, people aren’t friendly enough or you don’t feel safe - I respect that. And I’m not saying the city can’t be improved. But I just wanted to offer the perspective of someone who has come to really really love the city. And I think there are many out there who actually would see it as the dream they imagined. As I have.
arturo on Jul 10, 2022:
Hello,

I'm living as foreigner since 2016 and to be honest with the last two comments, guys if you are thinking to come to live in Barcelona city center alone and do you want a flat by yourself I think with a incoming of 3400€-3800€ it will be fine, in the begining on this Month the prices has been increased.

Hence 1000€ it will be a little bit extreme je.

Simondiy --> if I were you (working remotely) I will go out of barcelona maybe at north (costa brava) and find a good cheaper flat.

as you can see the accomodation on Barcelona has rose for 800(if you have luck) to 1200 [no included other tax and pluses].

take a look on Idealista.com, fotocasa.com, grocasa.com, etc.

good luck
Simondiy on May 17, 2022:
Please, help with info. If I earn up to €59000 gross, the tax would be 37%, right? Will so monthly it is approximately €2600-€2800. Is it enough for living in Barcelona for a single man?
Anonymous on Feb 20, 2022:
is 1000 euro per month enough to live there or just nope ?
Anonymous on Feb 10, 2022:
10,000 euro per person per month isn't outlandish at all just the basics medium comfortable. I'm talking about 240,000 euro net per year for expenses not gross.That amount is the difference in not living next to paupers who don't have a penny sniffing for tidbits like you.
Anonymous on Feb 04, 2022:
10,000 euro?? That would be like 20,000 euro gross. 240,000 euro per year. Do you feed gold to your kids?
Anonymous on Jan 31, 2022:
4,000 euro enough for a comfortable life 4 people in Barcelona? Not even close you'd need atleast 7,000 euro monthly but that's just the basics.
10,000 euro monthly would be more like it especially for 4 people Barcelona is far from cheap.
Juliana on Jan 13, 2022:
A net salary of 4.000EUR monthly is enough to have a confortable life for a family of 4?
Anonymous on Dec 06, 2021:
I'm opening a bar called covid19 cocktails in Barcelona soon. Only covid19 infected patrons are allowed and here's several bonuses. A heavily sedated punch bowl full of embombing fluid spiked with strong alchol.House rules everyone drinks from the same glasses and shares straws for the adventurous. Last but certainly not least a full line of plush dieing couches for party patrons to exit in style.Welcome to covid19 cocktails the ultimate eternal drink.
Anonymous on Nov 17, 2021:
Anyone can provide some info on what a junior technical project manager salary looks like? is 2500-3000 realistic? thank you.
Sandeep on Jun 26, 2020:
Get a 6 figures job in Software Engineering, you would live like a king in Barcelona
Mxo on Apr 13, 2020:
I am shocked about how many negative comments are here.

Barcelona is a great city with a lot to offer. There are plenty of cafes, restos, plazas and bars to enjoy. It has a great quality of life, and that's why so many people keep wanting to move to barcelona. There are qualified jobs, but also plenty of non-qualified jobs.. at the end of the day you have to be agressive and make a good situation for yourself, as with everywhere.

Rents are expensive in comparison to the salaries though. People here tend to be complacent and prefer to fight for the catalan cause as opposed to demanding higher salaries and job security. Apart from that, they are friendly and nice people.