Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Longyan Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Longyan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $455 in Longyan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $753 in Longyan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,052 in Longyan.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 444% more expensive than in Longyan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Longyan is 67% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Longyan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74 €16.33
$3.03 ¥20.32
518.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5 €60.6
$21.97 ¥147
216.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.77 €12.00
$5.23 ¥35.03
163.29%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$2.25 ¥15.05
37.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 €2.47
$0.49 ¥3.27
477.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 €1.64
$0.27 ¥1.79
596.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.98 €3.47
$0.85 ¥5.70
368.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €3.95
$1.67 ¥11.22
171.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Longyan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.11
$2.07 ¥13.87
-38.65%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 €1.88
$1.46 ¥9.80
47.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.53
$0.71 ¥4.75
147.89%
Eggs
$5.13 €4.47
$1.51 ¥10.14
239.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.88 €15.59
$7.33 ¥49.12
143.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 €8.41
$2.96 ¥19.83
226.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.15 €17.56
$9.26 ¥62.0
117.60%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 €2.84
$1.86 ¥12.47
74.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 €1.94
$1.31 ¥8.79
70.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.60 €2.27
$1.70 ¥11.36
52.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 €2.40
$1.12 ¥7.48
146.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 €1.93
$0.85 ¥5.66
160.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 €1.85
$0.99 ¥6.60
114.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 €1.35
$0.43 ¥2.89
260.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 €0.83
$0.52 ¥3.51
82.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34 €6.40
$3.26 ¥21.86
125.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.05 €7.01
$12.10 ¥81.0
-33.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 €1.35
$0.77 ¥5.14
100.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 €2.43
$1.16 ¥7.76
140.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Longyan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.11 €2.71
$0.13 ¥0.86
2292.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.86 €22.54
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.27 €2.85
$1.06 ¥7.10
208.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 €1.29
$0.47 ¥3.13
214.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.27 €29.88
$7.61 ¥51.0
350.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 €1.51
$1.22 ¥8.14
41.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K €31.7K
$19.4K ¥129.9K
87.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K €26.6K
$15.3K ¥102.6K
99.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Longyan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 €163
$65.1 ¥436
187.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14 €13.20
$15.70 ¥105
-3.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69 €32.85
$9.09 ¥60.9
314.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Longyan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 €48.76
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08 €14.89
$4.51 ¥30.20
278.71%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41 €9.95
$7.29 ¥48.84
56.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Longyan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$997 €869
$208 ¥1,395
378.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.4K
$11.9K ¥79.5K
39.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Longyan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6 €80.8
$29.86 ¥200
210.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22 €35.93
$14.78 ¥99.0
178.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 €96.9
$75.7 ¥507
46.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €109
$95.9 ¥642
30.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Longyan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,707 €1,488
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,286 €1,121
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,565 €2,236
$376 ¥2,515
583.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,942 €1,693
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,647 €6,666
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,167 €4,504
$1,321 ¥8,846
291.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Longyan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,348 €2,047
$499 ¥3,340
370.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.16
3.22
-1.86%

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

Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026

Last update for Longyan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Barcelona pays 371% 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 $22.00 in Longyan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $181 per month, with Longyan 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 Longyan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Longyan?
Barcelona and Longyan differ by about 444% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $455 including rent). Longyan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Longyan?
Average pay runs 371% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Longyan?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $208 in Longyan. 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 Longyan – a meal for two runs $22.00 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 $2,000 per month?
At $455 in Longyan versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Longyan but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Longyan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Longyan?
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 Longyan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Longyan 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 Longyan?
Expats usually find Longyan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 444% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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