😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $738 in Dong Xoai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $1,148 in Dong Xoai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $1,557 in Dong Xoai.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 225% more expensive than in Dong Xoai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Dong Xoai is 45% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Dong Xoai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68€15.42
$1.96₫51.4K
802.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€61.1
$21.14₫555.4K
231.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.91
$4.31₫113.2K
216.94%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.39
$1.54₫40.6K
77.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$0.51₫13.5K
447.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.71
$0.30₫7,915
553.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.81
$0.93₫24.4K
368.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.99
$1.54₫40.6K
197.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Dong Xoai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.13
$1.42₫37.3K
-9.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.79
$0.91₫23.8K
125.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$0.96₫25.1K
106.25%
Eggs
$3.39€2.96
$1.46₫38.3K
132.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.64€16.26
$11.64₫305.7K
60.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56€8.34
$3.60₫94.6K
165.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83€16.43
$9.74₫255.9K
93.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.40
$2.69₫70.6K
2.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.15
$1.05₫27.6K
135.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.29₫33.9K
62.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82€2.46
$1.08₫28.5K
161.11%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.76
$1.07₫28.0K
88.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$1.01₫26.4K
83.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.32
$0.63₫16.6K
139.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.78
$0.48₫12.6K
87.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06€6.16
$1.38₫36.3K
411.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98€6.96
$8.30₫218.1K
-3.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.25
$0.79₫20.8K
81.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$1.60₫42.0K
43.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Dong Xoai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.51
$0.32₫8,308
800.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.77
$6.50₫170.9K
336.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.82
$0.76₫19.9K
476.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.87
$0.65₫17.1K
229.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15€25.44
$2.72₫71.5K
971.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.63
$0.89₫23.3K
108.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€34.0K
$34.5K₫905.7M
13.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.5K
$32.0K₫839.6M
2.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Dong Xoai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€165
$75.5₫2.0M
150.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71€19.82
$5.88₫154.5K
286.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51€31.85
$8.53₫224.0K
328.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Dong Xoai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€50.3
$21.03₫552.5K
173.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37€18.64
$7.44₫195.5K
187.23%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.43
$3.03₫79.6K
256.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Dong Xoai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€634
$269₫7.1M
170.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K€13.2K
$11.6K₫305.3M
29.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Dong Xoai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€76.5
$41.49₫1.1M
111.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89€32.19
$23.54₫618.4K
56.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€90.3
$86.4₫2.3M
19.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€102
$75.9₫2.0M
53.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Dong Xoai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,373
$364₫9.6M
332.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,064
$249₫6.5M
390.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,711€2,366
$695₫18.2M
290.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,966€1,716
$469₫12.3M
319.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,811€6,815
$4,164₫109.4M
87.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,267€4,595
$1,456₫38.2M
261.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Dong Xoai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,375€2,072
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
9.1
-62.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 14, 2026
Last update for Dong Xoai: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Barcelona and $364 in Dong Xoai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $21.00 in Dong Xoai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $183 per month, with Dong Xoai 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 Dong Xoai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Dong Xoai?
Barcelona and Dong Xoai differ by about 225% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $738 including rent). Dong Xoai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Dong Xoai?
You'd need roughly $3,599 in Barcelona and $1,107 in Dong Xoai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Dong Xoai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,573 in Barcelona versus $364 in Dong Xoai. 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 Dong Xoai?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $269 in Dong Xoai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 76% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $738 in Dong Xoai versus $2,399 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dong Xoai but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Dong Xoai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Dong Xoai?
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 Dong Xoai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Dong Xoai 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 Dong Xoai?
Expats usually find Dong Xoai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 225% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.