Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Jining Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Jining

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $705 in Jining.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,133 in Jining.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $1,561 in Jining.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 229% more expensive than in Jining, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Jining is 47% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Jining
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 €15.46
$2.81 ¥19.01
528.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7 €61.0
$21.27 ¥144
227.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.16 €12.40
$4.85 ¥32.80
191.96%
Cappuccino
$2.80 €2.45
$3.06 ¥20.71
-8.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 €2.46
$0.44 ¥2.95
538.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 €1.81
$0.29 ¥1.98
610.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.60 €4.03
$0.89 ¥6.00
416.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 €4.11
$2.03 ¥13.73
131.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Jining
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 €1.08
$1.84 ¥12.42
-33.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 €1.78
$1.53 ¥10.36
32.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 €1.73
$0.95 ¥6.45
108.42%
Eggs
$3.49 €3.05
$1.64 ¥11.06
112.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.33 €16.05
$13.03 ¥88.1
40.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.83 €8.61
$3.17 ¥21.45
210.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.13 €16.75
$10.01 ¥67.6
91.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 €2.39
$1.71 ¥11.56
59.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 €2.09
$1.20 ¥8.14
98.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.38 ¥9.32
50.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.75 €2.41
$1.08 ¥7.28
154.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 €1.72
$0.68 ¥4.61
188.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 €1.57
$0.91 ¥6.18
96.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 €1.29
$0.60 ¥4.07
146.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 €0.80
$0.51 ¥3.48
78.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13 €6.25
$3.12 ¥21.06
128.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.88 €6.90
$8.63 ¥58.3
-8.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.21
$0.80 ¥5.43
72.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 €2.09
$1.63 ¥11.02
46.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Jining
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.01 €2.64
$0.27 ¥1.82
1014.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.35 €25.71
$16.92 ¥114
73.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.36 €3.82
$1.38 ¥9.31
215.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 €1.86
$0.33 ¥2.22
545.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.60 €25.93
$6.48 ¥43.80
356.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.60
$1.17 ¥7.92
55.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K €33.2K
$19.3K ¥130.6K
95.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K €28.4K
$16.8K ¥113.7K
92.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Jining
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €166
$46.36 ¥313
307.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29 €19.52
$9.62 ¥65.0
131.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16 €32.55
$11.66 ¥78.8
218.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Jining
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.0 €50.8
$42.24 ¥285
37.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66 €18.09
$13.81 ¥93.3
49.60%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87 €9.52
$6.10 ¥41.22
78.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Jining
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 €618
$336 ¥2,273
109.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K €13.0K
$17.0K ¥115.0K
-12.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Jining
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4 €78.3
$42.98 ¥290
108.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60 €32.06
$30.78 ¥208
18.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €91.1
$71.9 ¥486
44.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €105
$73.5 ¥496
62.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Jining
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,579 €1,383
$280 ¥1,893
463.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,238 €1,084
$187 ¥1,265
561.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,712 €2,375
$587 ¥3,968
361.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 €1,786
$360 ¥2,429
467.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,527 €6,592
$3,117 ¥21.1K
141.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,239 €4,588
$1,847 ¥12.5K
183.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Jining
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,364 €2,070
$591 ¥3,993
300.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
3.87
-12.40%

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

Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026

Last update for Jining: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $280 in Jining. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 300% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $21.00 in Jining for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $193 per month, with Jining 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 Jining: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Jining?
Barcelona and Jining differ by about 229% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $705 including rent). Jining is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Jining?
Average pay runs 300% 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 Jining?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $280 in Jining. 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 Jining?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $336 in Jining. 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 66% 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 $705 in Jining versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jining but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Jining the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Jining?
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 Jining safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Jining 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 Jining?
Expats usually find Jining gentler on the wallet – expenses run 229% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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