😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Barcelona versus $774 in Siargao.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,468 in Barcelona versus $1,210 in Siargao.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Barcelona versus $1,646 in Siargao.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 202% more expensive than Siargao, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Siargao is 42% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08€14.72
$3.63₱221
370.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.7
$19.23₱1,168
260.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.78€11.87
$3.27₱199
321.41%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.37
$2.53₱154
9.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.40
$0.82₱49.87
240.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$0.40₱24.16
397.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.76
$1.25₱75.9
248.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$2.15₱131
120.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.90₱116
-32.11%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.77
$1.21₱73.5
69.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$1.02₱61.7
95.10%
Eggs
$3.39€2.92
$2.07₱125
63.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.81€16.21
$7.95₱482
136.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36€8.07
$4.33₱263
116.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12€16.48
$7.81₱474
144.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.32
$2.98₱181
-9.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.50₱91.3
56.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$2.63₱160
-19.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.46
$1.55₱93.9
83.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$2.32₱141
-15.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$2.53₱154
-28.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$1.06₱64.7
36.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.72₱43.48
19.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$2.90₱176
133.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90€6.81
$6.76₱410
16.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.17₱70.9
18.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$2.02₱123
17.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.52
$0.28₱17.03
942.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.69€24.72
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46€3.84
$0.83₱50.6
437.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.77
$0.24₱14.64
754.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55€25.46
$2.16₱131
1268.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.09₱66.2
66.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.5K
$26.8K₱1.6M
44.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$20.5K₱1.2M
61.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€163
$111₱6,727
70.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.80€19.65
$33.34₱2,024
-31.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.59€32.39
$27.38₱1,663
37.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.75
$33.81₱2,053
70.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.87
$4.39₱267
372.44%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82€9.33
$6.05₱367
78.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$728€628
$149₱9,059
388.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K€12.7K
$4,241₱257.5K
248.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6€76.4
$46.07₱2,797
92.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€31.75
$27.11₱1,646
35.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.9
$76.6₱4,651
33.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100
$53.3₱3,234
117.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569€1,352
$262₱15.9K
499.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,050
$179₱10.9K
580.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,795€2,409
$599₱36.4K
366.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$389₱23.6K
408.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,754€6,680
$2,329₱141.4K
232.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,176€4,460
$948₱57.5K
446.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Siargao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,343€2,019
-
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Siargao: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Barcelona and $262 in Siargao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $19.00 in Siargao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $203 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 202% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $774 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 $3,505 in Barcelona and $1,162 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: $1,569 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 $728 in Barcelona versus $149 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 $774 in Siargao versus $2,337 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 202% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.