🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $562 in Anshan versus $2,367 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $883 in Anshan versus $3,465 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,205 in Anshan versus $4,563 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Anshan costs roughly 76% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Anshan is 58% below, Barcelona is 77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Anshan
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.55¥23.99
$17.58€15.12
-79.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.30¥117
$68.4€58.9
-74.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.27¥28.85
$14.06€12.09
-69.63%
Cappuccino
$2.81¥19.00
$2.78€2.39
1.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32¥2.20
$2.80€2.41
-88.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22¥1.49
$2.06€1.78
-89.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.68¥4.57
$4.46€3.84
-84.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55¥10.51
$4.61€3.96
-66.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Anshan
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59¥10.76
$1.24€1.07
28.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.15¥7.79
$2.03€1.74
-43.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.37¥2.48
$1.92€1.65
-80.73%
Eggs
$2.03¥13.70
$3.31€2.85
-38.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.23¥55.6
$18.43€15.85
-55.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$1.62¥10.98
$9.49€8.16
-82.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.24¥55.7
$19.16€16.48
-56.99%
Apples(1kg)
$0.98¥6.65
$2.64€2.27
-62.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10¥7.44
$2.45€2.11
-55.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08¥7.32
$2.12€1.82
-49.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.72¥4.85
$2.85€2.45
-74.74%
Potato(1kg)
$0.27¥1.82
$2.04€1.75
-86.76%
Onion(1kg)
$0.77¥5.21
$1.85€1.59
-58.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60¥4.03
$1.47€1.26
-59.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43¥2.94
$0.84€0.73
-48.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51¥23.71
$7.14€6.14
-50.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.40¥77.1
$7.88€6.78
44.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.67¥4.52
$1.38€1.19
-51.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36¥9.23
$2.31€1.99
-41.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Anshan
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27¥1.82
$2.98€2.56
-90.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.69¥113
$29.26€25.17
-42.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93¥6.26
$4.60€3.95
-79.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33¥2.22
$2.07€1.78
-84.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.99¥26.96
$29.18€25.10
-86.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03¥6.95
$1.84€1.58
-44.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K¥122.2K
$39.0K€33.6K
-53.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.9K¥93.7K
$32.7K€28.1K
-57.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Anshan
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$27.67¥187
$188€162
-85.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.90¥46.67
$22.93€19.73
-69.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.30¥76.4
$36.71€31.58
-69.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Anshan
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.61¥187
$57.4€49.35
-51.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.69¥92.6
$20.70€17.80
-33.86%
Cinema Ticket
$5.69¥38.47
$11.19€9.63
-49.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Anshan
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$207¥1,402
$721€620
-71.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,333¥63.1K
$15.0K€12.9K
-37.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Anshan
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.30¥232
$86.2€74.2
-60.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89¥236
$37.07€31.89
-5.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9¥574
$102€87.8
-16.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.0¥467
$116€99.7
-40.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Anshan
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$139¥940
$1,534€1,319
-90.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$114¥768
$1,220€1,050
-90.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275¥1,857
$2,696€2,319
-89.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$205¥1,389
$2,013€1,732
-89.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,785¥18.8K
$7,220€6,211
-61.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,790¥12.1K
$5,189€4,463
-65.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Anshan
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$940¥6,359
$2,359€2,029
-60.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
3.39
-41.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Anshan: May 31, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $139 in Anshan and $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 151% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Anshan vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $153 vs $318 per month, with Anshan cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Anshan vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barcelona cheaper than Anshan?
Anshan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 321% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Anshan or Barcelona?
On paper, Barcelona earns 151% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Anshan and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $139 in Anshan versus $1,534 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Anshan or Barcelona?
Dining out is cheaper in Anshan – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Anshan vs Barcelona?
All in, you'll spend $562 per month in Anshan versus $2,367 in Barcelona – a 321% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Anshan or Barcelona?
At $562 in Anshan versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Anshan but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Anshan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Anshan or Barcelona more family-friendly?
For families, Anshan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Barcelona, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Anshan or Barcelona?
Safety-wise, Anshan and Barcelona are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Anshan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 321% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.