😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Barcelona versus $695 in Maoming.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,458 in Barcelona versus $1,095 in Maoming.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,601 in Barcelona versus $1,494 in Maoming.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 233% more expensive than in Maoming, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 73% above, Maoming is 48% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Maoming
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19€15.07
$2.06¥13.92
734.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7€62.0
$20.74¥140
241.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.02€12.30
$3.72¥25.19
276.88%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.44
$2.94¥19.87
-5.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.44
$0.42¥2.84
561.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.79
$0.27¥1.81
659.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.52€3.96
$0.93¥6.32
386.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67€4.10
$2.15¥14.53
117.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Maoming
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.13
$1.63¥11.04
-20.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14€1.87
$1.61¥10.89
32.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.93€1.70
$0.90¥6.09
114.44%
Eggs
$3.49€3.06
$1.64¥11.08
112.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.52€16.24
$12.75¥86.2
45.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.36
$3.22¥21.80
195.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.90€16.57
$10.26¥69.4
84.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62€2.30
$1.73¥11.71
51.45%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.05
$1.25¥8.47
87.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.43¥9.68
45.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.50
$1.14¥7.71
150.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$0.69¥4.64
184.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$0.92¥6.21
101.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53€1.34
$0.56¥3.78
173.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.79
$0.55¥3.75
63.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.77€5.94
$3.05¥20.61
121.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.79€6.83
$11.64¥78.8
-33.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$0.81¥5.47
70.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32€2.04
$1.60¥10.84
45.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Maoming
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.00€2.63
$0.29¥1.97
934.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.62€25.10
$16.88¥114
69.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€4.01
$1.36¥9.17
236.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$0.35¥2.37
508.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.91
$6.64¥44.91
345.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80€1.57
$1.17¥7.91
53.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K€33.7K
$19.6K¥132.6K
96.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K€29.2K
$16.8K¥113.6K
98.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Maoming
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185€162
$45.05¥305
310.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.68€19.89
$9.72¥65.7
133.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.78€32.25
$11.35¥76.8
224.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Maoming
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.8€50.7
$31.25¥211
84.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.19€18.58
$13.73¥92.9
54.33%
Cinema Ticket
$10.83€9.49
$6.21¥42.04
74.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Maoming
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$727€637
$333¥2,250
118.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K€12.9K
$16.7K¥113.3K
-12.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Maoming
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.6€76.8
$42.65¥289
105.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.37€32.76
$30.49¥206
22.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€90.5
$70.9¥479
45.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€104
$75.3¥509
57.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Maoming
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,560€1,368
$278¥1,880
461.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221€1,071
$188¥1,273
548.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,742€2,404
$595¥4,022
361.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,746
$366¥2,475
444.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,489€6,567
$3,041¥20.6K
146.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,207€4,566
$1,847¥12.5K
181.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Maoming
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,355€2,064
$1,024¥6,929
129.88%
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 21, 2026
Last update for Maoming: July 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,560 in Barcelona and $278 in Maoming. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 130% 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: $71.0 in Barcelona vs $21.00 in Maoming for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $199 per month, with Maoming 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 Maoming: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Maoming?
Barcelona and Maoming differ by about 233% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $695 including rent). Maoming is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Maoming?
Average pay runs 130% 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 Maoming?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,560 in Barcelona versus $278 in Maoming. 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 Maoming?
Childcare runs $727 in Barcelona versus $333 in Maoming. 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 $695 in Maoming versus $2,316 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maoming but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Maoming the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Maoming?
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 Maoming safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Maoming 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 Maoming?
Expats usually find Maoming gentler on the wallet – expenses run 233% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.