Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Koh Phi Phi

For one person, living is cheaper in Koh Phi Phi: $1,930 a month against $2,405 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,405
/mo nomad
Koh Phi Phi
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,930
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barcelona and in Koh Phi Phi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Barcelona and in Koh Phi Phi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,405 in Barcelona versus $1,930 in Koh Phi Phi.

  • Barcelona $2,405
  • Koh Phi Phi $1,930

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,477 in Barcelona versus $3,266 in Koh Phi Phi.

  • Barcelona $3,477
  • Koh Phi Phi $3,266

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,550 in Barcelona versus $4,603 in Koh Phi Phi.

  • Barcelona $4,550
  • Koh Phi Phi $4,603

Living in Barcelona is roughly 25% more expensive than in Koh Phi Phi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 79% above, Koh Phi Phi 44% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.98 €16.05
$6.82 ฿228
163.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.4 €60.2
$48.47 ฿1,623
39.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.37 €11.93
$12.83 ฿430
4.21%
Cappuccino
$3.34 €2.98
$4.10 ฿137
-18.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 €2.64
$1.36 ฿45.48
116.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 €1.69
$0.73 ฿24.55
160.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.88 €3.46
$3.84 ฿129
1.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 €4.08
$5.54 ฿186
-17.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.13
$2.00 ฿67.1
-36.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.96 €1.75
$1.72 ฿57.6
13.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 €1.56
$1.88 ฿63.0
-6.91%
Eggs
$4.89 €4.36
$2.52 ฿84.5
94.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.47 €15.59
$23.69 ฿793
-26.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.06 €8.09
$4.05 ฿136
123.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.18 €18.01
$13.17 ฿441
53.23%
Apples (1kg)
$3.08 €2.75
$3.50 ฿117
-12.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 €1.81
$1.95 ฿65.3
4.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.60 €2.32
$2.71 ฿90.7
-4.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.71 €2.42
$2.55 ฿85.5
6.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 €1.92
$1.82 ฿61.0
18.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 €1.97
$1.65 ฿55.3
33.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 €1.38
$1.29 ฿43.10
19.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 €0.83
$0.62 ฿20.78
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.09 €6.32
$5.08 ฿170
39.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.63 €6.81
$21.86 ฿732
-65.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 €1.33
$2.13 ฿71.3
-30.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 €2.43
$3.40 ฿114
-19.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.95 €2.63
$3.05 ฿102
-3.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.91 €23.13
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 €2.80
$4.13 ฿138
-24.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.45 €1.29
$1.48 ฿49.50
-2.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.17 €30.49
$5.21 ฿174
555.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.79 €1.60
$2.01 ฿67.3
-10.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €31.0K
$37.6K ฿1.3M
-7.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K €27.0K
$37.9K ฿1.3M
-20.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$181 €161
$106 ฿3,556
70.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.56 €12.10
$12.39 ฿415
9.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.12 €31.34
$19.02 ฿637
84.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.2 €47.44
$62.1 ฿2,080
-14.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.05 €14.33
$13.26 ฿444
21.04%
Cinema Ticket
$11.37 €10.14
$9.25 ฿310
22.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$939 €838
$665 ฿22.3K
41.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.7K
$14.0K ฿467.7K
18.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.2 €78.7
$67.3 ฿2,252
31.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.77 €35.49
$29.94 ฿1,002
32.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €92.3
$100 ฿3,358
3.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €107
$90.7 ฿3,037
31.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,695 €1,513
$1,569 ฿52.5K
8.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 €1,161
$1,007 ฿33.7K
29.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,576 €2,299
$4,640 ฿155.3K
-44.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,941 €1,732
$2,698 ฿90.3K
-28.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,470 €6,666
$7,572 ฿253.5K
-1.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,195 €4,636
$5,505 ฿184.3K
-5.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Koh Phi Phi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,299 €2,052
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.28
5.57
-41.11%

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

Last update for Barcelona: October 4, 2026

Last update for Koh Phi Phi: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
$1.3K
Koh Phi Phi
$1K 22.6% $294
Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
$325
Koh Phi Phi
$321 1.2% $3.9
Eating Out
Barcelona
$272
Koh Phi Phi
$181 33.5% $91
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
$229
Koh Phi Phi
$138 40% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
$158
Koh Phi Phi
$130 17.9% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
$76
Koh Phi Phi
$81 6.3% $4.8
Getting Around
Barcelona
$48
Koh Phi Phi
$24 * 50.7% $24

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,695 in Barcelona and $1,569 in Koh Phi Phi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $67.0 in Barcelona vs $48.00 in Koh Phi Phi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $325 vs $321 per month, with Koh Phi Phi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🇹🇭 Koh Phi Phi
🕒 Local time
06:53 6:53 AM
11:53 11:53 AM
5 h ahead of Barcelona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,660,122
2,500
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.55 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barcelona Koh Phi Phi 9,980 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Barcelona
  • Koh Phi Phi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 in Koh Phi Phi?
Barcelona and Koh Phi Phi differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($2,405 vs $1,930 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 $3,607 in Barcelona and $2,894 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 in Koh Phi Phi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,695 in Barcelona versus $1,569 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 $939 in Barcelona versus $665 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 $48.00 versus $67.0 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 $1,930 in Koh Phi Phi versus $2,405 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 25% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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