😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $604 in Erdenet.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $852 in Erdenet.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $1,100 in Erdenet.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 284% more expensive than in Erdenet, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Erdenet is 55% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$3.87MNT 13.9K
356.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$29.70MNT 106.5K
134.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$4.44MNT 15.9K
218.92%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$1.57MNT 5,628
78.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$0.64MNT 2,284
339.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.40MNT 1,419
415.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$1.22MNT 4,367
277.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$1.33MNT 4,779
252.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.02MNT 3,641
20.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$0.72MNT 2,582
181.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.80MNT 6,435
10.00%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$2.17MNT 7,776
60.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$9.76MNT 35.0K
87.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$5.01MNT 18.0K
96.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$3.80MNT 13.6K
403.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$2.50MNT 8,974
9.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$2.10MNT 7,528
13.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$2.62MNT 9,373
-20.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$2.02MNT 7,245
36.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$0.72MNT 2,595
172.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$1.00MNT 3,582
79.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$0.84MNT 3,022
76.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.69MNT 2,487
31.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$2.89MNT 10.4K
146.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$5.69MNT 20.4K
38.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.15MNT 4,139
20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$1.32MNT 4,716
81.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$0.10MNT 349
2910.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$4.76MNT 17.1K
516.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$0.46MNT 1,638
847.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$0.68MNT 2,431
213.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$5.28MNT 18.9K
460.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$0.92MNT 3,299
97.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$12.3KMNT 43.9M
209.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$10.5KMNT 37.6M
208.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$61.3MNT 219.7K
208.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$2.91MNT 10.4K
665.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$14.91MNT 53.4K
149.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$25.29MNT 90.7K
129.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$4.46MNT 16.0K
363.23%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$2.63MNT 9,412
313.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$193MNT 690.6K
266.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$2,617MNT 9.4M
468.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$28.90MNT 103.6K
209.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$29.19MNT 104.6K
25.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$87.2MNT 312.4K
19.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$89.5MNT 320.8K
33.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$174MNT 622.2K
809.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$131MNT 470.2K
843.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$580MNT 2.1M
367.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Erdenet
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$225MNT 805.4K
952.04%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Erdenet: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $174 in Erdenet. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 952% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $30.00 in Erdenet for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $180 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 in Erdenet?
Barcelona and Erdenet differ by about 284% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $604 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?
Average pay runs 952% 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 Erdenet?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $174 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 $706 in Barcelona versus $193 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 77% 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 $604 in Erdenet versus $2,320 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 284% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.