😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $777 in Marawi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,220 in Marawi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $1,663 in Marawi.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 201% more expensive than Marawi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Marawi is 42% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$3.53₱215
383.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$17.57₱1,067
294.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$3.21₱195
329.28%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$2.45₱149
12.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.77₱46.78
262.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.37₱22.25
437.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.36₱82.6
220.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$2.11₱128
124.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.82₱110
-29.12%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.21₱73.5
69.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$0.94₱56.9
111.70%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$1.99₱121
70.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$8.00₱486
135.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$4.23₱257
121.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$7.52₱457
154.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$3.01₱183
-10.30%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.59₱96.3
47.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$2.69₱163
-21.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$1.54₱93.6
85.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$2.30₱139
-14.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$2.54₱154
-29.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$1.08₱65.5
34.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.73₱44.05
17.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$2.77₱168
144.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$8.69₱528
-9.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.19₱72.4
16.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$2.04₱124
16.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.26₱15.66
1023.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$0.78₱47.15
471.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$0.22₱13.34
831.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$2.19₱133
1249.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.15₱70.0
58.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$26.2K₱1.6M
48.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$20.5K₱1.2M
61.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$113₱6,854
67.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$32.80₱1,992
-30.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$27.22₱1,653
38.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$33.51₱2,035
72.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$4.54₱276
356.83%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$5.86₱356
84.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$153₱9,279
376.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$4,316₱262.1K
242.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$45.03₱2,734
96.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$26.69₱1,620
38.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$75.3₱4,570
35.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$53.8₱3,264
115.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$271₱16.4K
479.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$179₱10.9K
581.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$580₱35.2K
381.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$396₱24.0K
399.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$2,579₱156.6K
200.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$1,030₱62.6K
402.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Marawi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
$291₱17.6K
706.62%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Marawi: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $271 in Marawi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 707% 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 $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 Marawi?
Barcelona and Marawi differ by about 201% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $777 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?
Barcelona pays 707% 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 Marawi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $271 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 $728 in Barcelona versus $153 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 $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 $777 in Marawi versus $2,337 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 201% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.