😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,356 in Barcelona versus $687 in Liaocheng.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,455 in Barcelona versus $1,059 in Liaocheng.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,553 in Barcelona versus $1,431 in Liaocheng.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 243% more expensive than Liaocheng, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Liaocheng is 49% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.64€15.01
$2.82¥19.23
525.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.0
$12.69¥86.7
436.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.96€11.88
$5.82¥39.76
139.86%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.35
$1.72¥11.75
60.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76€2.35
$0.38¥2.58
626.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97€1.67
$0.25¥1.70
688.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.53€3.85
$0.74¥5.05
512.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.85
$2.26¥15.45
100.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.05
$1.76¥12.01
-29.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04€1.73
$1.60¥10.91
27.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91€1.63
$0.95¥6.50
101.05%
Eggs
$3.39€2.89
$1.59¥10.84
113.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.34€15.60
$12.62¥86.2
45.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.39€7.99
$3.24¥22.12
189.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.90€16.08
$10.31¥70.4
83.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63€2.23
$1.75¥11.94
50.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.40€2.04
$1.22¥8.33
96.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.80
$1.42¥9.73
49.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.70€2.30
$1.13¥7.71
138.94%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05€1.75
$0.71¥4.88
188.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78€1.52
$0.95¥6.52
87.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.25
$0.59¥4.03
149.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.77
$0.51¥3.49
78.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€5.97
$3.05¥20.83
129.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.59€6.46
$10.19¥69.6
-25.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.22
$0.80¥5.46
80.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32€1.97
$1.64¥11.18
41.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94€2.50
$0.29¥2.00
913.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.38€25.00
$16.49¥113
78.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.53€3.85
$1.38¥9.42
228.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.82
$0.35¥2.41
511.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.97€24.65
$6.85¥46.77
322.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.61
$1.12¥7.64
68.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.2K
$19.4K¥132.6K
101.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.6K
$16.7K¥114.2K
94.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$46.13¥315
309.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.24€18.92
$10.04¥68.6
121.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.57€31.12
$11.67¥79.7
213.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.38
$42.24¥288
37.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.30€18.13
$13.96¥95.4
52.58%
Cinema Ticket
$11.01€9.37
$6.18¥42.19
78.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$731€622
$330¥2,253
121.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.6K
$16.9K¥115.4K
-12.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3€76.0
$38.85¥265
129.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38€31.81
$27.82¥190
34.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€89.0
$66.9¥457
56.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.0
$56.8¥388
104.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,551€1,320
$283¥1,932
448.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,216€1,035
$184¥1,260
559.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,799€2,382
$580¥3,965
382.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008€1,709
$364¥2,485
452.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,161€6,094
$3,213¥21.9K
122.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,021€4,273
$1,284¥8,771
290.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Liaocheng
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,462€2,095
$576¥3,936
327.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
3.92
-13.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 13, 2026
Last update for Liaocheng: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,551 in Barcelona and $283 in Liaocheng. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 327% 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: $68 in Barcelona vs $13 in Liaocheng for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $196 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 Liaocheng?
Barcelona and Liaocheng differ by about 243% in total monthly costs ($2,356 vs $687 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?
Barcelona pays 327% 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 Liaocheng?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,551 in Barcelona versus $283 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 $731 in Barcelona versus $330 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 61% 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 $687 in Liaocheng versus $2,356 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 243% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.