City Comparison

Barcelona vs Cranston

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Barcelona

Spain
78
Very Affordable
$365,000
Median Home
$1,375/mo
Median Rent
$37,500
Median Income

Cranston

Rhode Island
109
Above Average
$395,000
Median Home
$1,375/mo
Median Rent
$90,200
Median Income

The Verdict

28.4%

Barcelona is 28.4% less expensive than Cranston overall. A household earning $75,000 in Barcelona would need approximately $104,808 in Cranston to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
95
Barcelona
135
Cranston
Groceries
72
Barcelona
103
Cranston
Utilities
82
Barcelona
113
Cranston
Transportation
85
Barcelona
93
Cranston
Healthcare
68
Barcelona
110
Cranston

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Barcelona has the same purchasing power as $104,808 in Cranston.

Conversely, $75,000 in Cranston equals $53,670 in Barcelona.

Living in Barcelona vs Cranston

Housing Costs

Barcelona's housing index of 95 is lower Cranston's 135, translating to median home prices of $365,000 vs $395,000. The $30,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,956 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Barcelona compared to $1,375/mo in Cranston, a monthly difference of $0.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 72 in Barcelona and 103 in Cranston. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $342/month in Barcelona vs $489/month in Cranston. Barcelona offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1764/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 82 in Barcelona and 113 in Cranston. Monthly utility bills average approximately $328 in Barcelona vs $452 in Cranston. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 68 in Barcelona and 110 in Cranston. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 42-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $37,500 in Barcelona and $90,200 in Cranston. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,077 and $82,752 respectively. Cranston residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $875/month to housing in Barcelona vs $2,105/month in Cranston. In Barcelona, median rent of $1,375/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Cranston, median rent of $1,375/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 42 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Barcelona is 28.4% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 109.
A $75,000 salary in Barcelona has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $104,808 in Cranston, based on the cost of living difference.
Barcelona's housing index is 95 with median homes at $365,000, while Cranston's is 135 with median homes at $395,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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