Summary of cost of living in Barcelona, Spain:
Restaurants | |
Range |
---|---|---|
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | 16.64 $ | |
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | 66.54 $ | |
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | 12.20 $ | |
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) | 3.88 $ | |
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) | 3.88 $ | |
Cappuccino (regular) | 2.55 $ | |
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) | 2.60 $ | |
Water (12 oz small bottle) | 2.00 $ | |
Markets | |
|
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) | 4.41 $ | |
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) | 1.72 $ | |
Rice (white), (1 lb) | 0.81 $ | |
Eggs (regular) (12) | 3.35 $ | |
Local Cheese (1 lb) | 7.43 $ | |
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 4.31 $ | |
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | 8.72 $ | |
Apples (1 lb) | 1.07 $ | |
Banana (1 lb) | 0.91 $ | |
Oranges (1 lb) | 1.01 $ | |
Tomato (1 lb) | 1.16 $ | |
Potato (1 lb) | 0.84 $ | |
Onion (1 lb) | 0.85 $ | |
Lettuce (1 head) | 1.32 $ | |
Water (1.5 liter bottle) | 0.88 $ | |
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 7.76 $ | |
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | 1.31 $ | |
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) | 2.14 $ | |
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | 6.08 $ | |
Transportation | |
|
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | 2.83 $ | |
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | 24.40 $ | |
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | 3.33 $ | |
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) | 3.57 $ | |
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | 28.06 $ | |
Gasoline (1 gallon) | 7.06 $ | |
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | 35,671.51 $ | |
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | 28,778.97 $ | |
Utilities (Monthly) | |
|
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment | 179.39 $ | |
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data | 18.88 $ | |
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | 38.72 $ | |
Sports And Leisure | |
|
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | 48.47 $ | |
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | 21.98 $ | |
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | 9.98 $ | |
Childcare | |
|
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | 658.07 $ | |
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | 12,032.83 $ | |
Clothing And Shoes | |
|
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) | 84.20 $ | |
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) | 36.70 $ | |
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 97.89 $ | |
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes | 114.11 $ | |
Rent Per Month | |
|
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | 1,419.61 $ | |
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | 1,057.93 $ | |
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | 2,297.35 $ | |
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | 1,636.89 $ | |
Buy Apartment Price | |
|
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 580.83 $ | |
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 418.56 $ | |
Salaries And Financing | |
|
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 2,235.52 $ | |
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 3.47 |
Cost of Living in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat | 5.50 miles |
Cost of Living in Badalona | 6.72 miles |
Cost of Living in Cornella de Llobregat | 7.27 miles |
Cost of Living in Sabadell | 16.28 miles |
Cost of Living in Terrassa | 17.03 miles |
Cost of Living in Tarragona | 63.44 miles |
Cost of Living in Castello de la Plana | 173.67 miles |
Cost of Living in Sagunto | 205.23 miles |
Cost of Living in Valencia | 218.59 miles |
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No, amigo, you need to learn more English, to serve all the tourists your economy heavily depends upon, and have to TEACH your kids too.
Monolingual kids are rare these days except countries like Portugal, Italy, Spain…no wonder these countries keep falling behind whereas Western and even Eastern Europe are moving ahead.
- 2-3 months deposit (fianza)
- The current month
- 1500-2000 rental agency
- possible other charges depending the apart.
So for an average 45sq.m apartment which is 1300-1400 p.m you will need min:
2700+1350+1750=5800
just to get in, and that's while you will be spending minimum 100E per day on short term rental like airbnb because you need to be there to start searching. Hostels (shared dormitories) start from 50 per day.
For restaurants, keep in mind that the average tapa (small plate - not portion) is 10E and the average portion is 15-20. Water (500ml) is 2.5-3 euros, and you are asked to drink something with your food, so for 2 persons its more than 10 euros per day for water, if you don't cook home.
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.
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.
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.
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
10,000 euro monthly would be more like it especially for 4 people Barcelona is far from cheap.