😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,492 in Changwon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $2,305 in Changwon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $3,119 in Changwon.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 59% more expensive than Changwon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Changwon11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Changwon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$7.19₩10.9K
144.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$27.41₩41.5K
149.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$5.05₩7,648
178.42%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$3.58₩5,419
-22.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$1.80₩2,728
55.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$1.00₩1,520
106.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$2.91₩4,413
53.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$4.34₩6,569
6.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Changwon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$2.37₩3,588
-47.68%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$3.47₩5,261
-41.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$3.03₩4,589
-36.63%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$2.87₩4,342
15.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$10.38₩15.7K
77.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$8.03₩12.2K
18.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$27.30₩41.4K
-29.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$8.50₩12.9K
-68.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$3.18₩4,818
-22.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$7.37₩11.2K
-71.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$5.24₩7,935
-45.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$5.17₩7,838
-60.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$2.96₩4,481
-37.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$2.02₩3,054
-27.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.15₩1,744
-26.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$3.34₩5,056
113.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$16.44₩24.9K
-52.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.67₩2,531
-17.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$3.35₩5,083
-31.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Changwon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$1.08₩1,643
175.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$2.73₩4,142
68.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$0.81₩1,225
155.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$16.50₩25.0K
76.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.16₩1,762
58.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$28.3K₩42.8M
38.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$24.8K₩37.6M
31.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Changwon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$188₩284.5K
0.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$50.2₩76.1K
-54.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$27.31₩41.4K
34.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Changwon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$51.1₩77.5K
12.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$11.21₩17.0K
-0.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Changwon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$486₩736.0K
48.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$14.2K₩21.5M
6.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Changwon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$104₩157.7K
-17.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$48.44₩73.4K
-23.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$89.4₩135.4K
14.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$118₩178.4K
-1.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Changwon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$450₩681.9K
240.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$378₩573.4K
222.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$1,063₩1.6M
153.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$775₩1.2M
159.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Changwon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
$1,479₩2.2M
59.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.22
-19.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Changwon: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $450 in Changwon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 60% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $27.00 in Changwon. Groceries flip the comparison at $318 vs $444, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.
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 Changwon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Changwon?
Barcelona and Changwon differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,492 including rent). Changwon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Changwon?
Barcelona pays 60% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Changwon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $450 in Changwon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Changwon?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $486 in Changwon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Changwon – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,492 in Changwon versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Changwon but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Changwon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Changwon?
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.
Is Barcelona or Changwon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Changwon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Changwon?
Expats usually find Changwon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.