😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $688 in Iloilo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,058 in Iloilo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $1,428 in Iloilo.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 240% more expensive than Iloilo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Iloilo is 49% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Iloilo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$2.68₱163
537.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$20.94₱1,272
230.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$3.62₱220
280.66%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$1.96₱119
40.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.53₱32.04
426.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.32₱19.52
521.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$0.94₱57.3
363.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$1.72₱104
175.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Iloilo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.78₱108
-27.53%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.25₱76.1
64.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$0.88₱53.7
126.14%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$2.20₱134
54.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$6.04₱367
211.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$4.33₱263
116.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$6.80₱413
181.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$3.62₱220
-25.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.19₱72.5
96.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$3.28₱199
-35.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$1.61₱98.0
77.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$2.67₱162
-26.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$3.06₱186
-41.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$1.69₱103
-14.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.92₱56.1
-6.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$3.21₱195
111.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$5.84₱354
35.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.33₱81.0
4.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$1.39₱84.4
70.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Iloilo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.23₱13.89
1169.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
$5.27₱320
444.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$0.68₱41.39
555.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$0.29₱17.43
606.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$2.70₱164
994.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.15₱69.5
58.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$23.8K₱1.4M
62.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$19.7K₱1.2M
68.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Iloilo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$67.2₱4,083
181.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$31.38₱1,905
-27.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$30.48₱1,851
23.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Iloilo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$26.89₱1,633
114.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$5.23₱317
106.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Iloilo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$35.73₱2,169
1938.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$4,343₱263.7K
240.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Iloilo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$44.18₱2,682
100.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$22.85₱1,388
61.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$61.5₱3,732
66.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$26.07₱1,583
345.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Iloilo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$234₱14.2K
569.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$178₱10.8K
585.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$353₱21.4K
693.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$289₱17.5K
584.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$3,693₱224.2K
109.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$1,047₱63.6K
394.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Iloilo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$223₱13.5K
950.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
8
-57.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Iloilo: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $234 in Iloilo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 950% 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 $21.00 in Iloilo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $202 per month, with Iloilo 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 Iloilo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Iloilo?
Barcelona and Iloilo differ by about 240% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $688 including rent). Iloilo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Iloilo?
Barcelona pays 950% 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 Iloilo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $234 in Iloilo. 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 Iloilo?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $35.73 in Iloilo. 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 58% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $688 in Iloilo versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Iloilo but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Iloilo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Iloilo?
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 Iloilo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Iloilo 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 Iloilo?
Expats usually find Iloilo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 240% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.