😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,482 in Barcelona versus $1,406 in Iksan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,548 in Barcelona versus $2,148 in Iksan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $2,890 in Iksan.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 77% more expensive than in Iksan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona80% above, Iksan2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Iksan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42€15.88
$5.95₩7,978
209.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4€59.8
$33.96₩45.5K
104.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.05€12.11
$6.49₩8,703
116.49%
Cappuccino
$3.11€2.68
$3.57₩4,794
-12.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.55
$1.52₩2,036
94.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.69
$0.61₩823
219.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.99€3.44
$3.39₩4,543
17.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€3.98
$4.59₩6,154
0.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Iksan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.14
$2.25₩3,017
-41.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.82
$3.01₩4,036
-29.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$2.24₩3,002
-18.30%
Eggs
$5.16€4.45
$3.26₩4,369
58.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.56€15.14
$15.44₩20.7K
13.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.50€8.19
$7.67₩10.3K
23.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.93€17.18
$10.99₩14.7K
81.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.73
$7.49₩10.0K
-57.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.91
$3.24₩4,344
-31.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61€2.25
$7.48₩10.0K
-65.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$6.75₩9,046
-57.78%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$3.42₩4,587
-36.55%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.81
$2.40₩3,215
-12.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62€1.39
$2.08₩2,785
-22.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$1.27₩1,704
-30.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17€6.18
$3.40₩4,562
110.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.33€7.18
$18.75₩25.1K
-55.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$2.29₩3,069
-34.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75€2.37
$3.66₩4,905
-24.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Iksan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.14€2.70
$1.24₩1,659
153.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.25€22.63
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22€2.78
$3.69₩4,954
-12.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51€1.30
$0.66₩886
128.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.26€30.39
$14.88₩20.0K
136.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.51
$1.33₩1,783
31.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.6K
$29.8K₩40.0M
22.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K€27.3K
$35.5K₩47.6M
-10.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Iksan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€161
$206₩275.9K
-9.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10€13.01
$43.05₩57.7K
-64.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.60€32.41
$21.00₩28.2K
79.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Iksan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5€47.83
$57.4₩77.0K
-3.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.74€14.43
$12.32₩16.5K
35.88%
Cinema Ticket
$11.71€10.09
$11.34₩15.2K
3.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Iksan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,011€871
$297₩398.2K
240.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.1K€14.7K
$17.8K₩23.8M
-3.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Iksan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4€78.8
$65.2₩87.5K
40.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00€35.34
$64.0₩85.9K
-35.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€95.3
$72.6₩97.4K
52.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126€109
$99.6₩133.6K
26.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Iksan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,704€1,469
$459₩615.2K
271.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,299€1,120
$344₩461.9K
277.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,588€2,231
$1,107₩1.5M
133.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,929€1,663
$811₩1.1M
137.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,732€6,665
$6,583₩8.8M
17.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,384€4,641
$5,663₩7.6M
-4.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Iksan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,374€2,046
$1,683₩2.3M
41.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
4.1
-22.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 7, 2026
Last update for Iksan: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Barcelona and $459 in Iksan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 41% 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 $34.00 in Iksan. Groceries flip the comparison at $333 vs $408, 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 Iksan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Iksan?
Barcelona and Iksan differ by about 77% in total monthly costs ($2,482 vs $1,406 including rent). Iksan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Iksan?
Average pay runs 41% 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 Iksan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,704 in Barcelona versus $459 in Iksan. 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 Iksan?
Childcare runs $1,011 in Barcelona versus $297 in Iksan. 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 Iksan – a meal for two runs $34.00 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 $1,406 in Iksan versus $2,482 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Iksan but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Iksan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Iksan?
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 Iksan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Iksan 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 Iksan?
Expats usually find Iksan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.