😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $615 in Erdenet.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $862 in Erdenet.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $1,110 in Erdenet.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 285% more expensive than Erdenet, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Erdenet is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$4.05MNT 14.5K
334.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$29.03MNT 103.8K
135.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$4.34MNT 15.5K
223.96%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$1.59MNT 5,696
74.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$0.69MNT 2,467
305.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.39MNT 1,407
428.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$1.23MNT 4,393
262.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$1.32MNT 4,735
249.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.00MNT 3,576
24.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$0.72MNT 2,586
181.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.80MNT 6,419
6.67%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$2.13MNT 7,621
55.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$9.84MNT 35.2K
87.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$5.06MNT 18.1K
87.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$3.97MNT 14.2K
382.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$2.46MNT 8,803
7.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$2.03MNT 7,248
20.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$2.62MNT 9,373
-19.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$2.06MNT 7,359
38.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.76MNT 2,730
168.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$0.94MNT 3,351
96.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$0.90MNT 3,229
63.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.68MNT 2,442
23.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$3.00MNT 10.7K
138.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$5.74MNT 20.5K
37.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.16MNT 4,144
18.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$1.36MNT 4,864
69.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$0.10MNT 359
2880.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
$4.68MNT 16.7K
525.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$0.43MNT 1,525
969.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$0.68MNT 2,446
204.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$5.33MNT 19.1K
447.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$0.88MNT 3,131
109.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$12.6KMNT 44.9M
210.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$10.5KMNT 37.6M
211.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$63.4MNT 226.6K
196.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$2.86MNT 10.2K
701.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$14.88MNT 53.2K
146.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$24.77MNT 88.6K
131.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
$4.36MNT 15.6K
374.77%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$2.72MNT 9,738
311.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$195MNT 696.1K
270.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$2,663MNT 9.5M
464.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$29.04MNT 103.8K
196.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$29.89MNT 106.9K
24.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$90.1MNT 322.0K
13.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$89.3MNT 319.1K
29.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$180MNT 642.5K
753.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$135MNT 482.5K
804.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$596MNT 2.1M
352.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
$221MNT 790.1K
967.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Erdenet: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $180 in Erdenet. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 968% 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 $29.00 in Erdenet for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $181 per month, with Erdenet 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 Erdenet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Erdenet?
Barcelona and Erdenet differ by about 285% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $615 including rent). Erdenet is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Erdenet?
Barcelona pays 968% 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 Erdenet?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $180 in Erdenet. 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 Erdenet?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $195 in Erdenet. 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 $615 in Erdenet versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Erdenet but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Erdenet the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Erdenet?
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 Erdenet safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Erdenet 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 Erdenet?
Expats usually find Erdenet gentler on the wallet – expenses run 285% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.