Cost of living comparison
Barcelona is 2.6% more expensive than Madrid.
- Restaurants
-
pay 3.4% more in Barcelona
- Groceries
-
pay 4.4% more in Barcelona
- Transportation
-
pay 3.2% less in Barcelona
- Housing
-
pay 2.7% more in Barcelona
- Childcare
-
pay 16.9% more in Barcelona
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 0.6% less in Barcelona
- Clothing
-
pay 5.1% less in Barcelona
The cost of childcare, groceries, restaurants, and housing in Barcelona are more expensive than in Madrid. Expenses including clothing, transportation, and entertainment and sports are lower in Barcelona.
If you lived in Barcelona instead of Madrid, you would:
pay 3.4% more for restaurants
|
Madrid
|
Barcelona
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.08
€15.59
|
$17.15
€16.63
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.72
€10.39
|
$11.79
€11.43
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.79
€2.70
|
$2.54
€2.47
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.80
€1.75
|
$1.91
€1.85
|
|
pay 4.4% more for groceries
|
Madrid
|
Barcelona
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.50
€1.45
|
$1.81
€1.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.92
€6.71
|
$7.89
€7.65
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.41
€4.27
|
$4.29
€4.16
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.05
€2.96
|
$3.26
€3.16
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.78
€3.67
|
$4.15
€4.03
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.13
€1.09
|
$1.05
€1.02
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.87
€0.84
|
$0.88
€0.85
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.01
€0.97
|
$1.00
€0.97
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.05
€1.02
|
$1.13
€1.10
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.83
€0.81
|
$0.84
€0.81
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.82
€0.80
|
$0.80
€0.78
|
|
pay 3.2% less for transportation
|
Madrid
|
Barcelona
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.79
€6.58
|
$6.73
€6.52
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$42.87
€41.58
|
$23.58
€22.87
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,759.38
€34,679.12
|
$34,473.26
€33,431.86
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.90
€14.45
|
$20.36
€19.75
|
|
pay 2.7% more for housing
|
Madrid
|
Barcelona
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$31.85
€30.88
|
$37.02
€35.90
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,468.90
€1,424.52
|
$1,371.48
€1,330.05
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,074.71
€1,042.24
|
$1,029.44
€998.34
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$130.03
€126.10
|
$137.15
€133.01
|
|
pay 16.9% more for childcare
|
Madrid
|
Barcelona
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$567.57
€550.42
|
$635.96
€616.75
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,069.47
€9,765.28
|
$12,241.07
€11,871.28
|
|
pay 0.6% less for entertainment and sports
|
Madrid
|
Barcelona
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.75
€3.64
|
$3.75
€3.64
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.59
€2.51
|
$2.44
€2.36
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$6.43
€6.24
|
$5.89
€5.72
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$43.11
€41.81
|
$49.24
€47.76
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$10.72
€10.39
|
$10.45
€10.13
|
|
pay 5.1% less for clothing
|
Madrid
|
Barcelona
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$90.50
€87.77
|
$82.23
€79.75
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$37.21
€36.09
|
$36.25
€35.16
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$97.88
€94.92
|
$97.65
€94.70
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$121.40
€117.73
|
$110.84
€107.49
|
|
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