😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $737 in Ongjin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,158 in Ongjin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $1,580 in Ongjin.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 221% more expensive than Ongjin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Ongjin is 45% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Ongjin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$2.92$2.92
502.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$22.93$22.93
198.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$8.31$8.31
69.19%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$1.17$1.17
137.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$1.01$1.01
177.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$1.04$1.04
98.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$7.03$7.03
-36.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$2.33$2.33
97.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Ongjin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$0.90$0.90
37.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$1.64$1.64
23.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.38$2.38
-19.33%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$3.31$3.31
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$4.70$4.70
292.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$2.32$2.32
309.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$5.91$5.91
224.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$6.82$6.82
-61.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$4.73$4.73
-48.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$2.36$2.36
-10.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$2.34$2.34
21.79%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$3.54$3.54
-42.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$3.44$3.44
-46.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$2.25$2.25
-34.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.47$0.47
78.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$4.66$4.66
53.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$7.94$7.94
-0.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.14$1.14
21.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$2.33$2.33
-0.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Ongjin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$1.06$1.06
181.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
$41.13$41.13
-28.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$1.52$1.52
202.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$2.12$2.12
-2.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$42.31$42.31
-31.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$0.78$0.78
135.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$23.5K$23.5K
65.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$29.2K$29.2K
11.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Ongjin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$34.86$34.86
438.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$11.43$11.43
100.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$46.48$46.48
-21.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Ongjin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$43.14$43.14
32.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
$15.32$15.32
35.12%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$7.98$7.98
40.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Ongjin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$112$112
546.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$2,189$2,189
587.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Ongjin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$22.78$22.78
278.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$28.77$28.77
28.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$63.5$63.5
60.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$87.9$87.9
31.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Ongjin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$91.3$91.3
1579.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$94.0$94.0
1198.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$2,336$2,336
15.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$140$140
1337.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
$1,783$1,783
305.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
$1,452$1,452
257.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Ongjin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
$216$216
994.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
7.11
-52.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ongjin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $91.3 in Ongjin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 994% 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 $23.00 in Ongjin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $234 per month, with Ongjin 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 Ongjin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Ongjin?
Barcelona and Ongjin differ by about 221% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $737 including rent). Ongjin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Ongjin?
Barcelona pays 994% 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 Ongjin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $91.3 in Ongjin. 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 Ongjin?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $112 in Ongjin. 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 36% 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 $737 in Ongjin versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ongjin but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Ongjin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Ongjin?
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 Ongjin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Ongjin 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 Ongjin?
Expats usually find Ongjin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 221% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.