😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,495 in Barcelona versus $647 in Liaocheng.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,550 in Barcelona versus $1,025 in Liaocheng.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,605 in Barcelona versus $1,403 in Liaocheng.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 286% more expensive than in Liaocheng, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 82% above, Liaocheng is 53% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39€15.81
$2.66¥17.88
591.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.5
$13.62¥91.4
407.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.13€12.15
$4.99¥33.48
183.17%
Cappuccino
$3.13€2.69
$1.83¥12.27
71.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.59
$0.40¥2.65
655.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$0.23¥1.55
752.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.00€3.44
$0.85¥5.67
370.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76€4.09
$1.96¥13.17
142.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$1.47¥9.90
-14.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.86
$1.47¥9.85
46.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69€1.45
$0.85¥5.67
98.82%
Eggs
$4.93€4.24
$1.17¥7.86
321.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.37
$11.64¥78.1
53.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61€8.26
$2.92¥19.57
229.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.34€16.63
$11.09¥74.4
74.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24€2.78
$1.47¥9.87
120.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.87
$1.07¥7.17
103.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67€2.30
$1.76¥11.84
51.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77€2.38
$1.22¥8.19
127.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.90
$0.63¥4.23
250.79%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19€1.88
$0.80¥5.37
173.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52€1.31
$0.52¥3.52
192.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.79
$0.57¥3.82
61.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12€6.12
$2.18¥14.63
226.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.14€6.99
$10.24¥68.7
-20.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.67¥4.47
123.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.39
$1.34¥9.02
107.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.15€2.71
$0.31¥2.11
916.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.99€23.21
$15.38¥103
75.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.25€2.79
$1.22¥8.21
166.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50€1.29
$0.31¥2.08
383.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.89€30.00
$4.34¥29.11
703.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.50
$1.13¥7.59
54.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.5K
$19.3K¥129.6K
89.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K€26.6K
$15.0K¥100.8K
105.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€161
$43.74¥294
328.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.44€13.27
$5.93¥39.78
160.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.80€32.49
$5.06¥33.94
647.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.2€49.16
$41.78¥280
36.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80€14.44
$15.19¥102
10.60%
Cinema Ticket
$11.58€9.95
$4.38¥29.42
164.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,003€862
$214¥1,439
367.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0K€14.6K
$20.0K¥134.0K
-14.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2€76.7
$34.25¥230
160.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.87€35.14
$29.19¥196
40.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€94.5
$71.9¥483
52.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€105
$59.7¥400
105.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,673€1,438
$319¥2,142
424.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331€1,145
$180¥1,206
640.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,596€2,232
$596¥4,000
335.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,950€1,676
$366¥2,456
432.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,573€6,511
$3,242¥21.8K
133.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,370€4,617
$1,278¥8,577
320.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,402€2,065
$586¥3,930
310.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
3.13
0.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Last update for Liaocheng: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,673 in Barcelona and $319 in Liaocheng. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 310% 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: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $14.00 in Liaocheng for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $186 per month, with Liaocheng 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 Liaocheng: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Liaocheng?
Barcelona and Liaocheng differ by about 286% in total monthly costs ($2,495 vs $647 including rent). Liaocheng is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Liaocheng?
Average pay runs 310% 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 Liaocheng?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,673 in Barcelona versus $319 in Liaocheng. 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 Liaocheng?
Childcare runs $1,003 in Barcelona versus $214 in Liaocheng. 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 78% 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 $647 in Liaocheng versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Liaocheng but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Liaocheng the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Liaocheng?
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 Liaocheng safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Liaocheng 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 Liaocheng?
Expats usually find Liaocheng gentler on the wallet – expenses run 286% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.