ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,088 in Koh Phan Ghan.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,949 in Koh Phan Ghan.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,809 in Koh Phan Ghan.
ðLiving in Barcelona is roughly 115% more expensive than Koh Phan Ghan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Koh Phan Ghan is 19% below.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Barcelona
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61âŽ15.04
$4.22āļŋ137
317.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7âŽ58.7
$42.27āļŋ1,374
62.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75âŽ11.74
$7.84āļŋ255
75.38%
Cappuccino
$2.76âŽ2.36
$2.78āļŋ90.2
-0.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78âŽ2.38
$0.61āļŋ19.80
355.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05âŽ1.75
$0.35āļŋ11.41
485.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61âŽ3.93
$2.19āļŋ71.4
110.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59âŽ3.92
$3.40āļŋ111
35.00%
ð Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28âŽ1.09
$2.03āļŋ66.2
-36.95%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11âŽ1.80
$1.72āļŋ56.0
22.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97âŽ1.68
$2.13āļŋ69.4
-7.51%
Eggs
$3.44âŽ2.94
$2.12āļŋ68.9
62.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83âŽ16.08
$18.46āļŋ600
2.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45âŽ8.07
$3.45āļŋ112
173.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01âŽ16.24
$12.89āļŋ419
47.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72âŽ2.32
$3.16āļŋ103
-13.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37âŽ2.03
$1.54āļŋ49.98
53.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08âŽ1.77
$2.29āļŋ74.6
-9.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76âŽ2.36
$1.90āļŋ61.8
45.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97âŽ1.68
$1.53āļŋ49.87
28.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79âŽ1.53
$1.43āļŋ46.61
25.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51âŽ1.29
$0.91āļŋ29.53
65.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90âŽ0.77
$0.47āļŋ15.23
91.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76âŽ5.77
$4.20āļŋ136
60.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55âŽ6.44
$18.23āļŋ593
-58.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44âŽ1.23
$1.70āļŋ55.2
-15.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41âŽ2.06
$2.58āļŋ83.8
-6.59%
ð Getting Around
Barcelona
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03âŽ2.59
$1.23āļŋ40.09
146.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39âŽ24.25
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43âŽ3.78
$2.71āļŋ88.1
63.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05âŽ1.75
$0.90āļŋ29.25
127.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33âŽ25.05
$12.70āļŋ413
130.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89âŽ1.61
$1.18āļŋ38.21
60.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7KâŽ33.1K
$25.4Kāļŋ825.7K
52.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4KâŽ27.6K
$30.4Kāļŋ988.1K
6.48%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189âŽ161
$121āļŋ3,935
55.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21âŽ18.96
$13.47āļŋ438
64.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82âŽ31.44
$18.75āļŋ610
96.37%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0âŽ49.52
$61.1āļŋ1,987
-5.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99âŽ17.93
$16.83āļŋ547
24.72%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05âŽ9.44
$9.10āļŋ296
21.43%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726âŽ620
$698āļŋ22.7K
4.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2KâŽ13.0K
$15.7Kāļŋ511.7K
-3.28%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3âŽ75.4
$57.4āļŋ1,866
53.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98âŽ31.58
$34.54āļŋ1,123
7.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103âŽ87.6
$113āļŋ3,680
-9.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119âŽ102
$83.3āļŋ2,709
43.05%
ð Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526âŽ1,304
$429āļŋ13.9K
256.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218âŽ1,040
$305āļŋ9,927
298.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794âŽ2,386
$1,435āļŋ46.7K
94.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027âŽ1,731
$1,040āļŋ33.8K
94.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094âŽ6,058
$2,570āļŋ83.6K
176.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849âŽ4,141
$1,844āļŋ59.9K
163.04%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404âŽ2,053
$751āļŋ24.4K
220.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.33
-36.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Koh Phan Ghan: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $429 in Koh Phan Ghan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Barcelona pays 220% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $42.00 in Koh Phan Ghan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $276 per month, with Koh Phan Ghan 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 Koh Phan Ghan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Koh Phan Ghan?
Barcelona and Koh Phan Ghan differ by about 115% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,088 including rent). Koh Phan Ghan is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Koh Phan Ghan?
Barcelona pays 220% 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 Koh Phan Ghan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $429 in Koh Phan Ghan. 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 Koh Phan Ghan?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $698 in Koh Phan Ghan. 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 Koh Phan Ghan â a meal for two runs $42.00 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 $2,000 per month?
At $1,088 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Koh Phan Ghan but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Koh Phan Ghan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Koh Phan Ghan?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Koh Phan Ghan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Koh Phan Ghan 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 Koh Phan Ghan?
Expats usually find Koh Phan Ghan gentler on the wallet â expenses run 115% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.