😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $1,484 in Pyeongtaek.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $2,224 in Pyeongtaek.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $2,965 in Pyeongtaek.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 59% more expensive than in Pyeongtaek, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona77% above, Pyeongtaek11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Pyeongtaek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.88
$7.25₩10.3K
136.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€59.1
$21.99₩31.3K
209.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.84
$4.75₩6,757
187.16%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$4.09₩5,808
-32.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.45
$1.22₩1,733
131.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$0.92₩1,301
113.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$3.63₩5,157
22.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€4.00
$5.83₩8,286
-20.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Pyeongtaek
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$2.35₩3,337
-45.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$3.57₩5,077
-40.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$3.12₩4,441
-36.22%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$2.86₩4,063
17.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.45
$10.59₩15.0K
79.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.27
$8.13₩11.6K
17.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.25
$27.37₩38.9K
-31.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.30
$8.46₩12.0K
-68.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$3.14₩4,458
-25.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$7.33₩10.4K
-71.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$5.38₩7,642
-49.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$5.03₩7,146
-61.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.57
$3.04₩4,316
-40.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$2.10₩2,983
-28.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.78
$1.19₩1,692
-25.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.88
$3.25₩4,620
108.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.87
$17.37₩24.7K
-54.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.71₩2,429
-19.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$3.50₩4,973
-31.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Pyeongtaek
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$1.07₩1,527
171.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.86
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.97
$3.63₩5,163
26.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$0.79₩1,117
158.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.91
$16.48₩23.4K
74.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$1.16₩1,651
56.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.1K
$28.2K₩40.1M
39.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.2K
$25.3K₩36.0M
28.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Pyeongtaek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$192₩272.4K
-2.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.34
$17.09₩24.3K
30.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.55
$27.81₩39.5K
30.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Pyeongtaek
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.91
$47.28₩67.2K
21.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.99
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.34
$11.30₩16.1K
-4.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Pyeongtaek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€629
$496₩704.4K
46.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$14.3K₩20.4M
5.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Pyeongtaek
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.2
$101₩143.7K
-13.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.94
$47.27₩67.2K
-22.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.7
$89.5₩127.3K
15.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$118₩167.3K
0.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Pyeongtaek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,322
$442₩628.7K
244.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,064
$380₩539.8K
223.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,366
$1,091₩1.6M
150.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,721
$771₩1.1M
157.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,480
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,549
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Pyeongtaek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,076
$1,682₩2.4M
42.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
4.22
-19.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Pyeongtaek: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $442 in Pyeongtaek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 42% 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 $22.00 in Pyeongtaek. Groceries flip the comparison at $319 vs $449, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.
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 Pyeongtaek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Pyeongtaek?
Barcelona and Pyeongtaek differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $1,484 including rent). Pyeongtaek is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Pyeongtaek?
Average pay runs 42% 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 Pyeongtaek?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $442 in Pyeongtaek. 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 Pyeongtaek?
Childcare runs $725 in Barcelona versus $496 in Pyeongtaek. 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 Pyeongtaek – a meal for two runs $22.00 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 $1,484 in Pyeongtaek versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Pyeongtaek but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Pyeongtaek the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Pyeongtaek?
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 Pyeongtaek safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Pyeongtaek 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 Pyeongtaek?
Expats usually find Pyeongtaek gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.