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: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $238 in Pyongyang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $389 in Pyongyang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $540 in Pyongyang.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 881% more expensive than Pyongyang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Pyongyang is 82% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.08 €14.72

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.2 €59.7

$23.33 $23.33

196.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 €11.87

Cappuccino

$2.76 €2.37

$1.18 $1.18

133.90%

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

$2.79 €2.40

$2.32 $2.32

20.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 €1.72

$1.14 $1.14

74.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.36 €3.76

$13.92 $13.92

-68.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 €4.09

$3.39 $3.39

39.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 €1.11

$1.01 $1.01

27.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.05 €1.77

$2.43 $2.43

-15.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 €1.71

$0.99 $0.99

101.01%

Eggs

$3.39 €2.92

$2.08 $2.08

62.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.81 €16.21

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.36 €8.07

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.12 €16.48

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 €2.32

Banana (1kg)

$2.34 €2.02

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 €1.83

Tomato (1kg)

$2.85 €2.46

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 €1.70

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 €1.55

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 €1.25

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 €0.74

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.78 €5.84

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 €6.81

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 €1.20

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 €2.04

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 €2.52

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.69 €24.72

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.46 €3.84

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 €1.77

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.55 €25.46

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 €1.56

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

$38.8K €33.5K

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

$33.1K €28.5K

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

$189 €163

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

$22.80 €19.65

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.59 €32.39

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 €49.75

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.74 €17.87

Cinema Ticket

$10.82 €9.33

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

$728 €628

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K €12.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.6 €76.4

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.85 €31.75

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 €87.9

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 €100

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,569 €1,352

$93.8 $93.8

1572.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 €1,050

$93.4 $93.4

1205.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 €2,409

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,975 €1,702

$140 $140

1306.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,754 €6,680

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,176 €4,460

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,343 €2,019

$252 $252

830.85%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Pyongyang: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $93.8 in Pyongyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 831% 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 $319 vs $47.00 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 881% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $238 including rent). Pyongyang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Barcelona pays 831% 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: $1,569 in Barcelona versus $93.8 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 $2,337 per month in Barcelona versus $238 in Pyongyang – a 881% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $238 in Pyongyang versus $2,337 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 881% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.