😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $1,913 in Koh Phi Phi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $3,716 in Koh Phi Phi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $5,518 in Koh Phi Phi.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 22% more expensive than Koh Phi Phi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona74% above, Koh Phi Phi42% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$7.01฿228
143.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$70.5฿2,297
-1.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$12.81฿417
7.57%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$4.63฿151
-40.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$1.09฿35.49
155.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.58฿19.02
243.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$3.62฿118
20.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$5.62฿183
-15.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$2.69฿87.5
-52.04%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$2.25฿73.2
-8.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$2.71฿88.3
-26.57%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$2.66฿86.6
27.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$23.59฿768
-20.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$4.41฿144
112.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$15.65฿510
22.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$3.99฿130
-32.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.95฿63.6
20.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$2.89฿94.0
-26.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$2.39฿78.0
19.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$1.91฿62.1
3.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.73฿56.4
4.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$1.18฿38.34
22.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.61฿19.92
40.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$5.09฿166
33.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$23.06฿751
-65.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.11฿68.7
-34.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$3.25฿106
-27.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$1.98฿64.4
47.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$4.41฿144
1.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$1.45฿47.15
41.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$19.54฿636
51.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.83฿59.7
-0.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$38.4K฿1.3M
1.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$46.1K฿1.5M
-28.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$136฿4,419
39.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$15.31฿499
48.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$20.16฿657
86.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$72.0฿2,345
-19.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$20.34฿663
1.97%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$10.76฿350
0.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$819฿26.7K
-11.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$19.0K฿617.3K
-22.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$60.9฿1,982
45.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$36.87฿1,201
-0.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$119฿3,878
-14.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$87.3฿2,842
33.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$1,333฿43.4K
17.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$987฿32.1K
23.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$4,472฿145.7K
-37.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$3,321฿108.2K
-40.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$8,079฿263.1K
-4.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$5,792฿188.7K
-10.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.33
-36.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 7, 2026
Last update for Koh Phi Phi: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $1,333 in Koh Phi Phi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $71.0 in Koh Phi Phi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $350 per month, with Barcelona 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 Phi Phi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Koh Phi Phi?
Barcelona and Koh Phi Phi differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,913 including rent). Koh Phi Phi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Koh Phi Phi?
You'd need roughly $3,505 in Barcelona and $2,870 in Koh Phi Phi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Koh Phi Phi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $1,333 in Koh Phi Phi. 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 Phi Phi?
Childcare runs $728 in Barcelona versus $819 in Koh Phi Phi. 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 Phi Phi – a meal for two runs $71.0 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 $3,000 per month?
At $1,913 in Koh Phi Phi versus $2,337 in Barcelona, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Koh Phi Phi but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Koh Phi Phi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Koh Phi Phi?
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 Koh Phi Phi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Koh Phi Phi 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 Phi Phi?
Expats usually find Koh Phi Phi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.