😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $769 in Marawi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $1,198 in Marawi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $1,626 in Marawi.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 207% more expensive than in Marawi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Marawi is 42% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$3.65₱223
369.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$17.59₱1,077
286.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$3.33₱204
309.61%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$2.39₱146
16.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$0.83₱51.0
239.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.36₱22.15
444.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$1.35₱82.7
228.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$2.10₱128
119.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$1.83₱112
-30.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$1.28₱78.1
66.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$0.94₱57.4
111.70%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$2.01₱123
67.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$7.97₱488
137.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$4.36₱267
118.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$7.63₱467
145.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$3.00₱184
-11.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$1.57₱96.3
49.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$2.58₱158
-18.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$1.54₱94.1
77.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$2.20₱134
-10.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$2.59₱158
-30.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$1.08₱65.8
39.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.75₱46.08
18.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$2.88₱177
135.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$7.89₱483
0.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.20₱73.4
14.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$2.06₱126
16.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$0.28₱17.25
939.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$0.84₱51.1
445.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$0.22₱13.43
827.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$2.10₱129
1267.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$1.14₱69.9
59.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$26.3K₱1.6M
49.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$20.1K₱1.2M
61.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$111₱6,813
67.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$33.10₱2,026
-32.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$27.05₱1,656
34.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$33.43₱2,046
72.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
$4.54₱278
356.83%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$6.09₱373
76.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$150₱9,194
382.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$4,333₱265.3K
249.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$46.11₱2,823
90.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$26.87₱1,645
36.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$74.1₱4,538
39.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$53.1₱3,253
123.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$270₱16.5K
464.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$178₱10.9K
590.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$596₱36.5K
357.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$397₱24.3K
399.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$2,233₱136.7K
234.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$960₱58.7K
446.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
$289₱17.7K
727.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.67
-49.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Marawi: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $270 in Marawi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 728% 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: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $18.00 in Marawi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $205 per month, with Marawi 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 Marawi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Marawi?
Barcelona and Marawi differ by about 207% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $769 including rent). Marawi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Marawi?
Average pay runs 728% 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 Marawi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $270 in Marawi. 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 Marawi?
Childcare runs $725 in Barcelona versus $150 in Marawi. 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 Marawi – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $68.0 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 $769 in Marawi versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Marawi but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Marawi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Marawi?
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 Marawi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Marawi 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 Marawi?
Expats usually find Marawi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 207% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.