😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $885 in Quezon City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $1,390 in Quezon City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $1,895 in Quezon City.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 171% more expensive than Quezon City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Quezon City is 34% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Quezon City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68€15.22
$4.70₱283
276.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€60.3
$21.60₱1,301
224.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.76
$3.07₱185
344.95%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.36
$2.98₱179
-8.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.93₱55.9
200.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$0.35₱21.03
460.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.22₱73.6
257.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.94
$2.71₱163
69.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Quezon City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$2.14₱129
-39.72%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.21₱73.0
69.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$1.11₱66.9
78.38%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$2.01₱121
68.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.64€16.05
$6.82₱411
173.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56€8.23
$4.28₱257
123.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83€16.22
$7.23₱436
160.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$4.48₱270
-38.62%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$1.55₱93.1
59.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.80
$2.92₱176
-28.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$1.65₱99.5
70.91%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.74
$2.83₱170
-28.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$4.13₱248
-55.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.30
$1.64₱98.9
-7.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.77
$1.00₱60.3
-10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06€6.08
$3.11₱187
127.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98€6.87
$7.39₱445
7.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.23
$1.60₱96.6
-10.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.97
$1.96₱118
16.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Quezon City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.48
$0.45₱27.15
540.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.45
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.77
$0.78₱46.79
461.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.84
$0.27₱16.35
692.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15€25.10
$2.16₱130
1249.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.61
$1.14₱68.7
63.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$25.7K₱1.5M
51.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$20.3K₱1.2M
61.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Quezon City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$166₱9,982
14.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71€19.56
$32.81₱1,976
-30.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.51€31.43
$29.91₱1,801
22.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Quezon City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€49.59
$25.25₱1,521
128.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37€18.40
$6.28₱378
240.29%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81€9.31
$6.94₱418
55.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Quezon City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€625
$81.5₱4,910
790.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K€13.0K
$2,830₱170.4K
433.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Quezon City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€75.5
$31.75₱1,912
176.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89€31.77
$29.62₱1,784
24.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.2
$97.8₱5,890
5.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$93.7₱5,646
24.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Quezon City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,355
$280₱16.9K
461.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$194₱11.7K
530.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,711€2,335
$735₱44.3K
268.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,966€1,693
$427₱25.7K
360.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,811€6,726
$2,436₱146.7K
220.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,267€4,535
$1,512₱91.1K
248.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Quezon City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,375€2,045
$453₱27.3K
424.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
8.13
-58.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: June 14, 2026
Last update for Quezon City: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Barcelona and $280 in Quezon City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 425% 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: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $22.00 in Quezon City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $223 per month, with Quezon City 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 Quezon City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Quezon City?
Barcelona and Quezon City differ by about 171% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $885 including rent). Quezon City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Quezon City?
Barcelona pays 425% 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 Quezon City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,573 in Barcelona versus $280 in Quezon City. 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 Quezon City?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $81.5 in Quezon City. 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 Quezon City – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $70.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $885 in Quezon City versus $2,399 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Quezon City but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Quezon City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Quezon City?
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 Quezon City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Quezon City 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 Quezon City?
Expats usually find Quezon City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 171% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.