😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,487 in Gimhae.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $2,312 in Gimhae.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $3,138 in Gimhae.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 57% more expensive than Gimhae, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona75% above, Gimhae11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Gimhae
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.08
$7.24₩10.7K
143.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.8
$37.05₩55.0K
85.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.77
$5.91₩8,762
132.66%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.36
$4.04₩5,995
-31.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.38
$1.80₩2,674
54.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$1.32₩1,965
55.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.94
$3.78₩5,604
21.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.93
$6.00₩8,897
-23.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Gimhae
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$2.28₩3,378
-43.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.81
$3.57₩5,300
-40.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$3.08₩4,561
-36.04%
Eggs
$3.44€2.95
$2.86₩4,247
20.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.12
$10.54₩15.6K
78.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.09
$8.44₩12.5K
11.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.27
$27.88₩41.4K
-31.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$8.66₩12.8K
-68.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$3.10₩4,598
-23.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.78
$7.38₩10.9K
-71.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.36
$5.31₩7,882
-48.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$5.16₩7,658
-61.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$2.89₩4,291
-38.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$2.08₩3,087
-27.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$1.15₩1,699
-21.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.79
$3.38₩5,008
100.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.46
$17.06₩25.3K
-55.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.76₩2,612
-18.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.06
$3.50₩5,188
-31.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Gimhae
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$1.12₩1,664
170.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.30
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.79
$3.46₩5,138
28.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.76
$0.78₩1,164
162.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.11
$16.60₩24.6K
76.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.62
$1.16₩1,721
62.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.2K
$27.5K₩40.7M
41.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.7K
$24.8K₩36.8M
30.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Gimhae
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$186₩276.1K
1.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.01
$50.8₩75.3K
-56.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.52
$28.04₩41.6K
31.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Gimhae
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.64
$47.06₩69.8K
23.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.97
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.46
$11.43₩17.0K
-3.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Gimhae
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€622
$480₩712.4K
51.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$14.0K₩20.8M
8.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Gimhae
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.6
$103₩152.5K
-14.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.66
$47.00₩69.7K
-21.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.8
$88.3₩130.9K
16.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$119₩175.9K
0.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Gimhae
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,307
$458₩679.1K
233.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,043
$369₩547.2K
230.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,392
$1,078₩1.6M
159.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,735
$765₩1.1M
164.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,073
$8,748₩13.0M
-18.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,151
$6,092₩9.0M
-20.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Gimhae
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,058
$2,263₩3.4M
6.23%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Gimhae: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $458 in Gimhae. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 6% 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: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $37.00 in Gimhae. Groceries flip the comparison at $320 vs $451, 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 Gimhae: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Gimhae?
Barcelona and Gimhae differ by about 57% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,487 including rent). Gimhae is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Gimhae?
Barcelona pays 6% 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 Gimhae?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $458 in Gimhae. 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 Gimhae?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $480 in Gimhae. 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 Gimhae – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,487 in Gimhae versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Gimhae but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Gimhae the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Gimhae?
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 Gimhae safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Gimhae 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 Gimhae?
Expats usually find Gimhae gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.