City Comparison

Barcelona vs Little Rock

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Barcelona

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

Little Rock

Arkansas
84
Very Affordable
$170,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$47,638
Median Income

The Verdict

7.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 7.1%, with Barcelona being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Barcelona has equivalent purchasing power to $80,769 in Little Rock.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
95
Barcelona
62
Little Rock
Groceries
72
Barcelona
94
Little Rock
Utilities
82
Barcelona
88
Little Rock
Transportation
85
Barcelona
98
Little Rock
Healthcare
68
Barcelona
90
Little Rock

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Barcelona has the same purchasing power as $80,769 in Little Rock.

Conversely, $75,000 in Little Rock equals $69,643 in Barcelona.

Living in Barcelona vs Little Rock

Housing Costs

Barcelona's housing index of 95 is higher Little Rock's 62, translating to median home prices of $365,000 vs $170,000. The $195,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,672 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Barcelona compared to $950/mo in Little Rock, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 72 in Barcelona and 94 in Little Rock. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $342/month in Barcelona vs $447/month in Little Rock. Barcelona offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1260/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 82 in Barcelona and 88 in Little Rock. Monthly utility bills average approximately $328 in Barcelona vs $352 in Little Rock. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 68 in Barcelona and 90 in Little Rock. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 22-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 $47,638 in Little Rock. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,077 and $56,712 respectively. Little Rock 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 $1,112/month in Little Rock. In Barcelona, median rent of $1,375/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Little Rock, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 33 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Barcelona is 7.1% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 84.
A $75,000 salary in Barcelona has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $80,769 in Little Rock, based on the cost of living difference.
Barcelona's housing index is 95 with median homes at $365,000, while Little Rock's is 62 with median homes at $170,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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