Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Pyongyang Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Pyongyang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $246 in Pyongyang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $393 in Pyongyang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $541 in Pyongyang.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 854% more expensive than Pyongyang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Pyongyang is 82% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.61 €15.08

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.7 €58.8

$22.96 $22.96

199.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.75 €11.77

Cappuccino

$2.76 €2.36

$1.19 $1.19

131.93%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 €2.38

$2.35 $2.35

18.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 €1.75

$1.17 $1.17

75.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.61 €3.94

$14.06 $14.06

-67.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 €3.93

$3.41 $3.41

34.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 €1.10

$1.00 $1.00

28.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.11 €1.81

$2.41 $2.41

-12.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 €1.69

$0.91 $0.91

116.48%

Eggs

$3.44 €2.95

$2.05 $2.05

67.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.83 €16.12

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.45 €8.09

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.01 €16.27

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 €2.33

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 €2.03

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 €1.78

Tomato (1kg)

$2.76 €2.36

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 €1.69

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 €1.53

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 €1.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 €0.77

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.76 €5.79

Wine (Bottle)

$7.55 €6.46

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 €1.23

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 €2.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.03 €2.59

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.39 €24.30

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.43 €3.79

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 €1.76

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.33 €25.11

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.89 €1.62

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$38.7K €33.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.4K €27.7K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$189 €161

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.21 €19.01

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.82 €31.52

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 €49.64

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.99 €17.97

Cinema Ticket

$11.05 €9.46

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$726 €622

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K €13.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.3 €75.6

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.98 €31.66

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €87.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €102

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,526 €1,307

$90.9 $90.9

1578.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 €1,043

$93.0 $93.0

1209.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,794 €2,392

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,027 €1,735

$140 $140

1345.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,094 €6,073

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,849 €4,151

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,404 €2,058

$260 $260

824.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.39

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026

Last update for Pyongyang: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $90.9 in Pyongyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 825% 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 $23.00 in Pyongyang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $46.00 per month, with Pyongyang 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 Pyongyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barcelona and Pyongyang differ by about 854% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $246 including rent). Pyongyang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Barcelona pays 825% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $90.9 in Pyongyang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Pyongyang – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,341 per month in Barcelona versus $246 in Pyongyang – a 854% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $246 in Pyongyang versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Pyongyang but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Pyongyang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Barcelona and Pyongyang are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Pyongyang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 854% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.