😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Barcelona versus $663 in Jieyang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,458 in Barcelona versus $1,041 in Jieyang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,601 in Barcelona versus $1,419 in Jieyang.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 250% more expensive than in Jieyang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 73% above, Jieyang is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19€15.06
$1.96¥13.28
777.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7€62.0
$12.00¥81.3
489.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.02€12.29
$3.50¥23.70
300.57%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.44
$2.81¥19.06
-1.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.44
$0.44¥2.97
531.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.79
$0.29¥1.96
606.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.52€3.96
$0.85¥5.77
431.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67€4.09
$1.66¥11.23
181.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.13
$1.42¥9.59
-9.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14€1.87
$2.16¥14.63
-0.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.93€1.69
$0.82¥5.54
135.37%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$0.82¥5.53
325.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.52€16.23
$11.28¥76.4
64.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.35
$2.37¥16.06
302.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.90€16.56
$10.60¥71.8
78.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62€2.30
$1.82¥12.35
43.96%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.05
$0.64¥4.32
265.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$0.94¥6.36
121.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.50
$1.85¥12.50
54.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$0.92¥6.21
113.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.66¥11.22
11.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53€1.34
$0.40¥2.74
282.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.79
$0.55¥3.74
63.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.77€5.93
$2.76¥18.67
145.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.79€6.82
$11.00¥74.5
-29.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$0.74¥5.04
86.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32€2.04
$1.65¥11.15
40.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.00€2.62
$0.29¥1.98
934.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.62€25.08
$16.81¥114
70.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€4.01
$0.88¥5.93
420.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$0.15¥1.03
1320.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.89
$6.87¥46.53
330.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80€1.57
$0.93¥6.32
93.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K€33.7K
$12.0K¥81.0K
221.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K€29.1K
$10.5K¥71.4K
215.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185€162
$38.57¥261
379.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.68€19.87
$9.91¥67.1
128.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.78€32.22
$11.54¥78.2
218.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.8€50.6
$41.90¥284
37.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.19€18.57
$13.70¥92.8
54.67%
Cinema Ticket
$10.83€9.49
$5.47¥37.06
97.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$727€637
$450¥3,047
61.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K€12.9K
$16.6K¥112.5K
-11.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.6€76.7
$19.19¥130
356.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.37€32.74
$27.10¥184
37.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€90.5
$56.3¥381
83.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€104
$81.0¥548
46.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,560€1,367
$283¥1,913
452.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221€1,070
$190¥1,290
541.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,742€2,402
$589¥3,991
365.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,745
$357¥2,415
458.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,489€6,562
$3,109¥21.1K
140.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,207€4,562
$1,926¥13.0K
170.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,355€2,063
$1,081¥7,320
117.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
3.56
-4.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 21, 2026
Last update for Jieyang: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,560 in Barcelona and $283 in Jieyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 118% 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: $71.0 in Barcelona vs $12.00 in Jieyang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $189 per month, with Jieyang 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 Jieyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Jieyang?
Barcelona and Jieyang differ by about 250% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $663 including rent). Jieyang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Jieyang?
Average pay runs 118% 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 Jieyang?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,560 in Barcelona versus $283 in Jieyang. 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 Jieyang?
Childcare runs $727 in Barcelona versus $450 in Jieyang. 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 69% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $663 in Jieyang versus $2,316 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Jieyang but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Jieyang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Jieyang?
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 Jieyang safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Jieyang 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 Jieyang?
Expats usually find Jieyang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 250% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.