😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $804 in Dagupan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $1,178 in Dagupan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $1,552 in Dagupan.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 193% more expensive than in Dagupan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Dagupan is 40% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Dagupan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$3.16₱194
442.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$13.47₱824
405.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$4.81₱294
183.58%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$2.84₱174
-2.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$0.54₱33.14
422.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.26₱15.73
653.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$1.29₱79.2
243.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$2.98₱182
54.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Dagupan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$2.11₱129
-39.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$1.50₱91.7
42.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$0.84₱51.3
136.90%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$2.18₱133
54.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$6.31₱386
200.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$4.41₱270
116.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$7.93₱486
136.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$4.47₱273
-40.72%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$1.94₱119
21.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$2.57₱157
-18.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$1.27₱77.9
114.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$3.28₱201
-40.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$2.95₱181
-38.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$1.08₱66.1
39.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.59₱36.26
50.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$2.65₱162
155.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$5.80₱355
36.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$0.94₱57.5
45.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$2.18₱133
10.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Dagupan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$0.24₱14.77
1112.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$0.68₱41.35
573.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$0.24₱14.69
750.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$3.61₱221
695.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$1.12₱68.5
62.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$33.2K₱2.0M
18.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$22.1K₱1.4M
46.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Dagupan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$113₱6,922
65.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$27.00₱1,652
-17.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$28.72₱1,758
26.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Dagupan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$37.61₱2,302
52.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
$4.39₱269
372.44%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$5.81₱356
85.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Dagupan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$114₱6,976
536.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$4,256₱260.5K
255.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Dagupan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$60.6₱3,707
45.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$9.06₱554
306.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$84.2₱5,156
22.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$50.7₱3,102
133.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Dagupan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$227₱13.9K
571.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$176₱10.7K
598.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$535₱32.7K
410.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$292₱17.9K
579.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$483₱29.6K
985.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Dagupan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
$243₱14.9K
884.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.67
-49.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Dagupan: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $227 in Dagupan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 884% 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 $13.00 in Dagupan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $211 per month, with Dagupan 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
Barcelona vs Dagupan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Dagupan?
Barcelona and Dagupan differ by about 193% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $804 including rent). Dagupan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Dagupan?
Average pay runs 884% higher in Barcelona, 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 in Dagupan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $227 in Dagupan. 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 Dagupan?
Childcare runs $725 in Barcelona versus $114 in Dagupan. 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 Dagupan – a meal for two runs $13.00 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 $1,500 per month?
At $804 in Dagupan versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dagupan but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Dagupan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Dagupan?
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 Dagupan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Dagupan 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 Dagupan?
Expats usually find Dagupan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 193% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.