Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Ansan

For one person, living is cheaper in Ansan: $1,415 a month against $2,453 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $12,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Barcelona, Spain
Ansan, South Korea
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,453
/mo nomad
Ansan
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,415
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barcelona and in Ansan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Barcelona and in Ansan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,453 in Barcelona versus $1,415 in Ansan.

  • Barcelona $2,453
  • Ansan $1,415

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,509 in Barcelona versus $2,177 in Ansan.

  • Barcelona $3,509
  • Ansan $2,177

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,564 in Barcelona versus $2,939 in Ansan.

  • Barcelona $4,564
  • Ansan $2,939

Living in Barcelona is roughly 73% more expensive than in Ansan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 80% above, Ansan 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Ansan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.76
$7.43 ₩9,958
136.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.5
$34.75 ₩46.6K
94.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.53 €12.12
$6.70 ₩8,976
101.94%
Cappuccino
$3.19 €2.86
$4.09 ₩5,486
-22.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.61
$1.58 ₩2,113
84.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 €1.70
$0.77 ₩1,027
145.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.01 €3.59
$3.56 ₩4,769
12.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €4.06
$4.60 ₩6,166
-1.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Ansan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 €1.17
$2.05 ₩2,743
-36.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.02 €1.81
$3.08 ₩4,128
-34.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 €1.66
$2.36 ₩3,158
-21.61%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.33
$3.68 ₩4,938
31.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.74 €15.00
$16.05 ₩21.5K
4.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.12 €8.17
$7.99 ₩10.7K
14.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.64 €17.60
$17.18 ₩23.0K
14.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 €2.67
$7.66 ₩10.3K
-61.10%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 €1.81
$3.23 ₩4,334
-37.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 €2.42
$5.81 ₩7,785
-53.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.80 €2.51
$6.43 ₩8,621
-56.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 €1.87
$3.59 ₩4,815
-41.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.85
$2.65 ₩3,546
-21.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 €1.31
$2.14 ₩2,864
-31.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.84
$1.15 ₩1,544
-18.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.87 €6.16
$3.37 ₩4,514
103.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 €7.07
$19.15 ₩25.7K
-58.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 €1.26
$2.30 ₩3,085
-38.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 €2.27
$3.30 ₩4,420
-23.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Ansan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.14 €2.82
$1.14 ₩1,529
175.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.45 €22.80
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 €2.68
$3.77 ₩5,052
-20.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 €1.34
$0.64 ₩857
132.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.37 €29.91
$9.26 ₩12.4K
260.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 €1.61
$1.41 ₩1,886
27.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K €29.7K
$29.9K ₩40.1M
10.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K €28.4K
$29.0K ₩38.9M
9.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Ansan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 €162
$213 ₩285.8K
-15.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.84 €12.40
$35.59 ₩47.7K
-61.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.70 €30.20
$21.25 ₩28.5K
58.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Ansan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.5 €46.16
$37.00 ₩49.6K
39.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.96 €14.30
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.99 €9.85
$11.37 ₩15.2K
-3.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Ansan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$917 €821
$299 ₩400.9K
206.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.8K
$18.2K ₩24.4M
-9.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Ansan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.0 €78.0
$57.6 ₩77.2K
51.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51 €34.51
$33.41 ₩44.8K
15.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 €94.8
$71.6 ₩95.9K
47.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €107
$82.4 ₩110.4K
45.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Ansan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,699 €1,523
$461 ₩617.3K
269.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,355 €1,214
$376 ₩504.0K
260.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,603 €2,332
$1,113 ₩1.5M
133.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 €1,848
$763 ₩1.0M
170.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,915 €6,196
$21.1K ₩28.3M
-67.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,128 €4,595
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Ansan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,211 €1,981
$1,493 ₩2.0M
48.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.28
4.08
-19.61%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: October 25, 2026

Last update for Ansan: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
$1.4K
Ansan
$376 72.3% $979
Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
$322
Ansan
$423 31.4% $101
Eating Out
Barcelona
$268
Ansan
$165 38.4% $103
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
$228
Ansan
$270 18.5% $42
Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
$158
Ansan
$110 30.2% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
$74
Ansan
$60 18.7% $14
Getting Around
Barcelona
$48
Ansan
$12 * 76.2% $37

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,699 in Barcelona and $461 in Ansan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 48% 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: $67 in Barcelona vs $35 in Ansan. Groceries flip the comparison at $322 vs $423, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🇰🇷 Ansan
🕒 Local time
09:28 9:28 AM
17:28 5:28 PM
8 h ahead of Barcelona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,660,122
677,710
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

KRW, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1,340 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.46 USD). 1 EUR = 1,496 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barcelona Ansan 9,620 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Barcelona
  • Ansan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Barcelona vs Ansan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ansan cheaper than Barcelona?
Ansan is about 42% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and transport. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Barcelona or Ansan?
Average pay runs 48% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Barcelona and Ansan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,699 in Barcelona versus $461 in Ansan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $917 in Barcelona versus $299 in Ansan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Barcelona or in Ansan?
Dining out is cheaper in Ansan – a meal for two runs $35 versus $67 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is it better to live in Barcelona or in Ansan?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Barcelona or Ansan?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Ansan are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Ansan wins on affordability, Barcelona on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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