😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $777 in Siargao.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,219 in Siargao.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $1,662 in Siargao.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 201% more expensive than Siargao, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Siargao is 42% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61€15.02
$3.62₱220
386.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€58.6
$19.32₱1,174
255.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€11.73
$3.25₱197
323.08%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.35
$2.50₱152
10.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.37
$0.79₱47.88
251.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.75
$0.39₱23.87
425.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€3.93
$1.24₱75.3
271.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.91
$2.15₱131
113.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.09
$1.83₱111
-30.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.80
$1.25₱76.3
68.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.03₱62.4
91.26%
Eggs
$3.44€2.94
$2.08₱127
65.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83€16.06
$7.94₱483
137.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45€8.06
$4.28₱260
120.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01€16.22
$7.76₱471
144.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.32
$2.85₱173
-4.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.02
$1.55₱94.3
52.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.77
$2.61₱159
-20.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.35
$1.55₱94.4
78.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$2.32₱141
-15.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$2.58₱157
-30.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.29
$1.07₱64.8
41.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.76
$0.75₱45.82
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76€5.77
$2.90₱176
133.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55€6.44
$6.65₱404
13.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$1.15₱70.0
25.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.05
$2.03₱124
18.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.59
$0.28₱17.08
982.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39€24.22
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.78
$0.81₱49.29
446.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.75
$0.24₱14.66
754.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.02
$2.09₱127
1303.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.61
$1.11₱67.5
70.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.0K
$26.9K₱1.6M
43.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.6K
$20.8K₱1.3M
55.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€161
$112₱6,832
67.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€18.94
$32.29₱1,962
-31.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82€31.40
$27.94₱1,698
31.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€49.47
$34.37₱2,089
68.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99€17.91
$4.36₱265
381.42%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05€9.43
$6.00₱365
84.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726€620
$154₱9,374
370.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.0K
$4,321₱262.6K
252.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3€75.3
$46.59₱2,831
89.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98€31.55
$26.07₱1,584
41.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€87.5
$75.4₱4,582
36.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$53.7₱3,260
122.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526€1,302
$262₱15.9K
481.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,039
$176₱10.7K
592.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794€2,383
$577₱35.1K
384.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027€1,729
$393₱23.9K
415.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094€6,051
$2,335₱141.9K
203.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849€4,136
$829₱50.4K
485.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404€2,051
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
6.67
-49.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Siargao: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $262 in Siargao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69 in Barcelona vs $19 in Siargao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $202 per month, with Siargao 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 Siargao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Siargao?
Barcelona and Siargao differ by about 201% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $777 including rent). Siargao is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barcelona compared to Siargao?
You'd need roughly $3,512 in Barcelona and $1,165 in Siargao to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Siargao?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $262 in Siargao. 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 Siargao?
Childcare runs $726 in Barcelona versus $154 in Siargao. 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 Siargao – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $777 in Siargao versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Siargao but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Siargao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Siargao?
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 Siargao safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Siargao 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 Siargao?
Expats usually find Siargao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 201% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.