😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,356 in Barcelona versus $653 in Jieyang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,455 in Barcelona versus $1,013 in Jieyang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,553 in Barcelona versus $1,373 in Jieyang.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 261% more expensive than Jieyang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Jieyang is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.64€15.01
$2.00¥13.67
782.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.0
$11.72¥80.0
481.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.96€11.88
$3.58¥24.48
289.94%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.35
$2.81¥19.21
-1.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76€2.35
$0.40¥2.75
590.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97€1.67
$0.29¥1.96
579.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.53€3.85
$0.82¥5.62
452.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.85
$1.66¥11.31
172.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.05
$1.37¥9.34
-9.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04€1.73
$2.14¥14.63
-4.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91€1.63
$0.83¥5.64
130.12%
Eggs
$3.39€2.89
$0.86¥5.87
294.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.34€15.60
$11.04¥75.4
66.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.39€7.99
$2.39¥16.29
292.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.90€16.08
$10.90¥74.5
73.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63€2.23
$1.79¥12.22
46.93%
Banana(1kg)
$2.40€2.04
$0.63¥4.32
280.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.80
$0.93¥6.38
127.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.70€2.30
$1.87¥12.77
44.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05€1.75
$0.89¥6.11
130.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78€1.52
$1.62¥11.07
9.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.25
$0.40¥2.76
267.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.77
$0.51¥3.50
78.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€5.97
$2.72¥18.59
157.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.59€6.46
$10.79¥73.7
-29.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.22
$0.78¥5.36
84.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32€1.97
$1.65¥11.26
40.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94€2.50
$0.29¥1.99
913.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.38€25.00
$16.46¥112
78.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.53€3.85
$0.81¥5.51
459.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.82
$0.14¥0.93
1428.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.97€24.65
$6.62¥45.19
337.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.61
$0.94¥6.42
101.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.2K
$12.0K¥82.0K
225.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.6K
$10.5K¥71.4K
210.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$38.16¥261
394.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.24€18.92
$9.53¥65.1
133.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.57€31.12
$11.34¥77.5
222.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.38
$41.05¥280
41.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.30€18.13
$13.87¥94.7
53.57%
Cinema Ticket
$11.01€9.37
$5.48¥37.41
100.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$731€622
$467¥3,187
56.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.6K
$17.0K¥116.1K
-12.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3€76.0
$19.43¥133
359.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38€31.81
$26.93¥184
38.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€89.0
$56.4¥385
85.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.0
$81.0¥553
43.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,551€1,320
$284¥1,938
446.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,216€1,035
$191¥1,304
536.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,799€2,382
$593¥4,050
371.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008€1,709
$365¥2,491
450.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,161€6,094
$3,220¥22.0K
122.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,021€4,273
$1,949¥13.3K
157.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Jieyang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,462€2,095
$1,068¥7,295
130.53%
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: April 13, 2026
Last update for Jieyang: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,551 in Barcelona and $284 in Jieyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 131% 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: $68 in Barcelona vs $12 in Jieyang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $188 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 Jieyang?
Barcelona and Jieyang differ by about 261% in total monthly costs ($2,356 vs $653 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?
Barcelona pays 131% 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 Jieyang?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,551 in Barcelona versus $284 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 $731 in Barcelona versus $467 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 68% 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 $653 in Jieyang versus $2,356 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 261% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.