Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Gyeonggi Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Gyeonggi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $1,088 in Gyeonggi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $2,066 in Gyeonggi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $3,044 in Gyeonggi.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 128% more expensive than in Gyeonggi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Gyeonggi is 21% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Gyeonggi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74 €16.33
$7.37 ₩10.2K
154.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5 €60.6
$59.6 ₩82.1K
16.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.77 €12.00
$6.29 ₩8,674
118.92%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$3.91 ₩5,383
-20.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 €2.47
$1.22 ₩1,676
131.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 €1.64
$0.72 ₩991
161.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.98 €3.47
$3.26 ₩4,493
22.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €3.95
$3.00 ₩4,128
51.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Gyeonggi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.11
$1.73 ₩2,389
-26.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 €1.88
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.53
-
-
Eggs
$5.13 €4.47
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.88 €15.59
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 €8.41
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.15 €17.56
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 €2.84
$11.21 ₩15.4K
-71.01%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 €1.94
$3.60 ₩4,967
-38.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.60 €2.27
$7.35 ₩10.1K
-64.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 €2.40
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 €1.93
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 €1.85
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 €1.35
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 €0.83
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34 €6.40
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$8.05 €7.01
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 €1.35
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 €2.43
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Gyeonggi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.11 €2.71
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.86 €22.54
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.27 €2.85
$3.05 ₩4,200
7.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 €1.29
$0.61 ₩840
142.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.27 €29.88
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 €1.51
$1.40 ₩1,927
23.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K €31.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K €26.6K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Gyeonggi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 €163
$185 ₩254.6K
1.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14 €13.20
$40.38 ₩55.6K
-62.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69 €32.85
$21.44 ₩29.5K
75.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Gyeonggi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 €48.76
$56.4 ₩77.7K
-0.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08 €14.89
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.41 €9.95
$9.98 ₩13.8K
14.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Gyeonggi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$997 €869
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Gyeonggi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6 €80.8
$59.5 ₩82.1K
55.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22 €35.93
$41.29 ₩56.9K
-0.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 €96.9
$85.0 ₩117.2K
30.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €109
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Gyeonggi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,707 €1,488
$512 ₩704.9K
233.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,286 €1,121
$376 ₩517.7K
242.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,565 €2,236
$2,119 ₩2.9M
21.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,942 €1,693
$1,495 ₩2.1M
29.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,647 €6,666
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,167 €4,504
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Gyeonggi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,348 €2,047
$2,227 ₩3.1M
5.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.16
3.5
-9.71%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026

Last update for Gyeonggi: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $512 in Gyeonggi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 5% 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 $60.0 in Gyeonggi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $124 per month, with Gyeonggi 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 Gyeonggi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Gyeonggi?
Barcelona and Gyeonggi differ by about 128% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $1,088 including rent). Gyeonggi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Gyeonggi?
Average pay runs 5% 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 Gyeonggi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $512 in Gyeonggi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Gyeonggi – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Barcelona or Gyeonggi?
All in, you'll spend $2,476 per month in Barcelona versus $1,088 in Gyeonggi – a 128% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,088 in Gyeonggi versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gyeonggi but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Gyeonggi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Gyeonggi?
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 Gyeonggi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Gyeonggi 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 Gyeonggi?
Expats usually find Gyeonggi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 128% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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