😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $728 in Liuzhou.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,126 in Liuzhou.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $1,523 in Liuzhou.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 219% more expensive than in Liuzhou, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Liuzhou is 46% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Liuzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$2.55¥17.26
592.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$15.47¥105
350.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$3.60¥24.33
293.33%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$3.44¥23.24
-18.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$0.55¥3.69
410.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.25¥1.70
724.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$0.95¥6.40
384.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$2.11¥14.28
122.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Liuzhou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.65¥11.13
-25.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$2.15¥14.51
-5.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.70¥11.48
16.47%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$1.48¥10.03
135.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$12.62¥85.3
45.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$3.42¥23.11
187.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$10.92¥73.8
75.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$1.63¥11.02
67.48%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$1.04¥7.04
128.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.35¥9.15
54.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$2.12¥14.31
29.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$0.67¥4.50
192.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$0.91¥6.18
96.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$0.91¥6.16
62.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$1.13¥7.65
-19.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$3.60¥24.35
98.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$9.75¥65.9
-19.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$0.83¥5.57
66.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$2.85¥19.28
-16.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Liuzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$0.27¥1.80
1014.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$16.56¥112
77.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$1.36¥9.18
220.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$0.28¥1.91
660.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$6.88¥46.47
330.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$1.27¥8.55
43.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$15.5K¥104.5K
144.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$12.6K¥85.4K
156.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Liuzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$44.42¥300
325.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$9.69¥65.5
130.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$10.52¥71.1
253.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Liuzhou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$74.3¥502
-21.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$13.88¥93.8
48.85%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$4.76¥32.14
128.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Liuzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$230¥1,557
206.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$17.2K¥116.5K
-13.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Liuzhou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$38.73¥262
130.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$23.13¥156
58.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$59.3¥401
75.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$52.5¥354
127.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Liuzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$223¥1,505
608.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$171¥1,157
623.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$383¥2,587
608.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$294¥1,989
592.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$3,117¥21.1K
141.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$1,826¥12.3K
186.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Liuzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$580¥3,921
307.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
3.87
-12.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Liuzhou: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $223 in Liuzhou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 307% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $15.00 in Liuzhou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $219 per month, with Liuzhou 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 Liuzhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Liuzhou?
Barcelona and Liuzhou differ by about 219% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $728 including rent). Liuzhou is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Liuzhou?
Average pay runs 307% 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 Liuzhou?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $223 in Liuzhou. 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 Liuzhou?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $230 in Liuzhou. 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 46% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $728 in Liuzhou versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Liuzhou but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Liuzhou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Liuzhou?
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 Liuzhou safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Liuzhou 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 Liuzhou?
Expats usually find Liuzhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 219% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.