😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $709 in Guiyang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,116 in Guiyang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $1,523 in Guiyang.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 227% more expensive than in Guiyang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Guiyang is 47% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Guiyang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$2.72¥18.41
549.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$21.69¥147
221.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$4.74¥32.05
198.73%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$2.97¥20.04
-5.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$0.47¥3.15
497.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.29¥1.99
610.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$0.87¥5.87
428.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$2.06¥13.93
127.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Guiyang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.79¥12.07
-31.28%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$1.56¥10.51
30.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$0.96¥6.51
106.25%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$1.61¥10.87
116.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$12.80¥86.5
43.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$3.10¥20.93
217.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$10.34¥69.9
85.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$1.85¥12.50
47.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$1.21¥8.18
96.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.55¥10.49
34.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$1.15¥7.76
139.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$0.71¥4.77
176.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$0.96¥6.50
86.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$0.60¥4.03
146.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.51¥3.48
78.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$3.18¥21.49
124.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$10.39¥70.2
-24.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$0.79¥5.34
74.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$1.58¥10.67
51.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Guiyang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$0.29¥1.98
937.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$16.69¥113
75.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$1.41¥9.55
209.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$0.33¥2.20
545.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$6.72¥45.43
340.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.18¥7.96
54.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$19.2K¥130.0K
97.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$17.2K¥116.3K
88.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Guiyang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$45.45¥307
315.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$9.95¥67.2
124.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$11.95¥80.8
210.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Guiyang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$42.47¥287
36.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$13.88¥93.8
48.85%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$5.86¥39.57
85.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Guiyang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$330¥2,232
113.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$17.1K¥115.7K
-13.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Guiyang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$43.21¥292
106.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$30.21¥204
21.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$71.0¥480
46.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$71.7¥485
66.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Guiyang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$277¥1,872
469.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$194¥1,314
536.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$590¥3,990
359.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$366¥2,474
456.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$3,025¥20.4K
148.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$2,047¥13.8K
155.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Guiyang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
3.89
-12.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Guiyang: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $277 in Guiyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $22.00 in Guiyang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $198 per month, with Guiyang 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 Guiyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Guiyang?
Barcelona and Guiyang differ by about 227% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $709 including rent). Guiyang 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 Guiyang?
You'd need roughly $3,480 in Barcelona and $1,063 in Guiyang 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 Guiyang?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $277 in Guiyang. 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 Guiyang?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $330 in Guiyang. 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 62% 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 $709 in Guiyang versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Guiyang but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Guiyang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Guiyang?
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 Guiyang safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Guiyang 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 Guiyang?
Expats usually find Guiyang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 227% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.